Ko wai au? I te taha o tōku whaea ko Ngātokimatawhaorua te waka Ko Hokianga nui a Kupe te moana. Ko ōku maunga karangaranga ko Rakautapu me Whiria. Ko Te Rarawa, me Ngāpuhi te iwi Ko Ngai Tupoto, Ngati Korokoro, Ngati Wharara, Te Pouka ngā hapū No Motukaraka me Pakanae ngā marae. I te taha o tōku matua he Pākehā. Ko Jade Le Grice tōku ingoa.

Jade Le Grice is Pouako Matua (Senior Lecturer) in Psychology & Manupiri (Associate Dean) Māori in Science at the University of Auckland. Her research explores the sociocultural contexts of Indigenous lives informed by colonial pressures, and the vibrancy of Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Current research projects explore sexual violence prevention, youth wellbeing, reproduction, and sexual health. Jade is inspired by Māori people working collectively and innovatively in community contexts, and their aspirations for future generations. She is a member of Nga Kaitiaki Mauri, of Te Ohaki a Hine: National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together, He Paiaka Totara: Maori Psychologists, and Te Aparangi: Māori Partnership Alliance Ministry of Health.

For Jade, success as Māori n Pūtaiao and STEAMx3 looks like funded and flourishing Māori-led initiatives across all strategic areas of Pūtaiao & STEAMx3 & Māori student success at all levels.

Kia ora katoa! He uri ahau no Ngāti Maniapoto, me Ngāti Porou hoki. Ko Jana Te Aroha Anderson tōkua ingoa.

I find great inspiration and am deeply motivated by the potential for mahi that creates valuable career paths and opportunities for our people, positively impacting our communities, whānau and hapori. As a Senior Māori Co-Innovation Advisor at Rangahau Ahumāra Kai | Plant and Food Research, I have the privilege of working within the Māori Strategy and Partnership team. My role involves supporting Te Rito Pathway, our Māori talent pipeline, and fostering Te Ao Māori capability across the organisation.

Success looks like this for Māori in Pūtaiao, and STEAMx3 is when our people fearlessly embrace their cultural identity, weaving it seamlessly into the fabric of scientific exploration and technological advancements. It’s when we see our communities thriving with innovative solutions that honour our traditions, empower our people and create a brighter future for generations to come.

He uri ahau nō Ngapuhi, nō Ngati Hau hoki. Nō Whangaruru ahau. My name is Fern Smith, and I am a PhD student within the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau. I am a Kaupapa Māori researcher, who works predominantly in the space of Māori sexual and reproductive health. For me, success in Pūtaiao and STEAMx involves drawing upon Māori ways of knowing and being in research, to support the next generations to flourish.

Ko Tārai o Rāhiri te maunga, ko Mangakawhia te awa, ko Māmari te waka, ko Ngāpuhi te iwi, ko Ngāti Toki te hapū, ko Tārai o Rāhiri te marae, Ko Tori Diamond tōku ingoa.

Alongside completing her Research Masters in Statistics at The University of Auckland, Tori works as a Researcher & Statistical Analyst at iNZight Analytics and has continuing involvement as a Tuākana Statistics mentor at The University of Auckland. Tori’s Masters project is focused on analysis for the Māori population using New Zealand’s linked administrative data system, the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). With a particular interest in health and epidemiology, she has had recent involvement on projects such as Te Ao Mārama: Disability perspectives of tāngata whaikaha Māori, reporting on Māori COVID-19 outcomes, and Enhancing Aotearoa New Zealand Clinical Trials. As a Māori student and emerging researcher, Tori’s work addresses inequities for indigenous and minority groups by upholding frameworks of Indigenous Data Sovereignty.

For Tori, success for Māori in Pūtaiao and STEAMx3 is demonstrated through fostering pathways which elevate Māori voices, in order for young Māori to achieve and prosper together.