Te Awhioraki's Reflection on 2020.

We’re arriving at the end of another year on campus... and what a year it’s been! There’s been a lot of unexpected disruption, and then somewhat expected disruption, but we’ve made it- me he tē

We’ve all been plenty busy at Te Awhioraki throughout the year, but some of our key highlights have been:

• Clubs and Markets Day: it’s so cool to see more and more stalls on campus- and a few new clubs too! (Pssst, did you know that there’s a Carpentry Club, as well as a Pottery Club? Tau kē!)

• Waaaaay back at the end of the year we got together with some tauira Māori for a couple inu at the Grouse- keep an eye for one last get together before exams!

• Community Day was a really nice way to catch up with members of the community and weave some harakeke just before lockdown had us locked inside

• While it’s been a stressful year, Te Awhioraki are grateful to have been able to send out vouchers and give out gift bags to tauira Māori as small ways of providing tautoko

• Elections! We know lots of people find them boring, but we were stoked to have strong engagement this year (both in elections and the AGM!). The tauira that you’ve chosen to represent you in 2021 will be saying hi again early next year, and planning a new line up of events, advocacy and support

• Last, and never least, Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, which may be one of our favourite weeks of the whole year. This year we had a movie night, quiz night, three free lunch, our AGM, and a night out bowling with students- and on that note, ngā mihi nui to Matua Kevin Eastwood from BioProtection Research Centre for sponsoring the bowling night!

Aside from all the fun things, Te Awhioraki has also been part of the conversations around how students are supported at the University, and doing work behind the scenes to see what we can do to make your experiences better (look elsewhere in the issue for another project we’re supporting…). That said, we always welcome ideas! So, if you have something you want to see us do, just flick us an email at TeAwhioraki@ lincolnuni.ac.nz

Whether you’re moving on from Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki onto a new kaupapa, or coming back over summer or returning next year, kia manawanui, mauria te pono, be strong-hearted, believe in yourself.

Kia ū, Te Awhioraki