Introducing your Manukura for 2022:
Maia Clark:
Kia ora, ko Maia Aroha Clark tōku ingoa, he uri tēnei nō Ngāti Haua ki Taumarunui, nō Ngāti Maniapoto anō hoki. Hi everyone, my name is Maia and I am one of the two Manukura here at Hillcrest High School. Prior to coming to Hillcrest I attended Te Kohanga Reo o Ngā Kuaka and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tōku Māpihi Maurea, so I knew coming to Hillcrest in 2018 that I wanted to continue my education and involvement in Te Ao Māori. Fortunately, Hillcrest had many great opportunities to offer, which led me to completing NCEA Level 1-3 in Te Reo Māori during my junior years, being involved in the school’s rōpū Kapa Haka, joining Māori council as well as the whānau class. Because of all these great opportunities, I felt compelled to contribute back to the Māori community here at Hillcrest High, and what better way to do this than to become Manukura.
This year as Manukura I hope to continue building a sense of ‘whānau’ within the Māori community at school and to provide them with opportunities to be involved in different aspects of our culture. I am also wanting to extend this outside of the Māori community, and to encourage everyone here at kura to engage, become more educated and more involved in all that Te Ao Māori has to offer. I hope to achieve these goals through running Matariki activities, Māori language week, starting up kapa haka again, and other personal projects. I look forward to what the rest of the year will bring. Ngā mihi!
Maia Ruba:
Hey everyone! My name’s Maia Ruba, the other half of Manukura Maia Clark. Being someone to step into this role is very special to me and the opportunities to continue sharing Te Reo/Maaori culture here at Hillcrest is an honor. I’ve been attending Hillcrest since year 10 and I’ll admit, I never thought of myself applying for leadership or even councils/subgroups so being here is a huge shock. I have, though, enjoyed planning the events we Manukura have to celebrate our culture here at school, such as Matariki week, and look forward to more of it this year with Clark.
