History
We live in a world of changes. So often our early beginnings are not captured.
Therefore,
we are taking this opportunity to share the Whakapapa as we know it today.
Te Rūma o Manaakita
As a result of the friendship between Dr Rex Hunton, senior lecturer in
community health and Mr Fred Ellis, an Auckland member of Te Rarawa Iwi from the
Kaitaia region, a link between the Medical School, Te Rarawa and Te Aupouri of Northland
was forged in 1976. During Queen's Birthday weekend of that year, over 100
medical students and some faculty members visited Ahipara and were guests of Te
Rarawa on the Pukepoto and Te Ohaki marae. This began a series of exchange visits,
with the people of the North and the medical school visiting each other on
alternate years.
These visits led to the development of firm friendships between many students and
staff members with the people of the Pukepoto, Te Ohaki and Manukau marae. They
also generated a more sensitive perception of the place of Māori culture
and lifestyles in the New Zealand way of life. Few medical students will forget
the aroha, the examples and the teaching of Uncle Dick Stirling, Uncle Simon and
Aunty Dollie Snowdon of the Gregory family – the late Vivian, Dr Bruce, Ross and
their sisters, of Uncle Ephraim Te Paa, Uncle Fred and Aunty Amelia Clark, Aunty
Amy Tatana, Mercia and Bully Smith, Mona and Brian Beckett, Fred Ellis who was our
constant good friend and adviser, and others too numerous to mention. In Auckland
itself, Eddie MacLeod, Anne Tia and Betty Wark all helped whenever we needed them.
Our association with the people of the North hadn't progressed far when in their
love and kindness in 1977, they gave us their blessing by dedicating our school
as a marae in its own right. At this time, Dr Bruce Gregory presented to the Medical
School the tokotoko he carved, with the expressed hope that it be used when we, the
tangata whenua of the Medical School marae, were speaking on our marae. Then in 1979,
carvings over the entry of the medical students' common room were unveiled by their
carver, medical student, David Tipene-Leach (now Dr Tipene-Leach) and blessed by
the Kaumatua of Te Rarawa.
The special link between Te Rarawa, the students' common room and the Medical School
marae was celebrated formally in 1981, when the common room was named "Manaakitia"
a name selected by Fred Ellis and willingly accepted by the students. The naming
of the common room and its blessing gave formal recognition to the room as a special
part of our marae. The room was seen by our visitors from the North as a special
place to be used by all with respect and pride in all areas of learning and helping
as they related to medical education. It is a room to be used fully, but in a fashion
which reflects its special nature.
*Manaakitia holds in the history of the school, in the memories of many of its students
and faculty, and in the hearts of our friends from the North. The history and memories
were affirmed in August 1993 when the new name plaque for Manaakitia was unveiled
and blessed.
*Manaakitia = support, take care of, give hospitality to, protect, look out for
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Ngā Kete Matauranga
In 1991, The University of Auckland Medical Students Association gifted a room to
Māori and Pacific students admitted under the MAPAS and ODA entry scheme. Blessed
and named Ngā Kete Matauranga (the baskets of knowledge), this room provides a study
place where the students can hold tutorials and assist each other with their studies.
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Te Herenga Kōrero
The Department of Māori and Pacific Health was formally set up in 1996. Te Herenga
Kōrero is the name given to the first offices of the Department of Māori and Pacific
Health when it was blessed in 1996.
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Fale Moana
Fale Moana was the name given to Number 2 Boyle Crescent, Grafton, when the department
expanded and established a Pacific brother/sister house.
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Te TokoToko
In 1977, Dr Bruce Gregory carved and presented "Te Kotahitanga o Ngā Hapū o Te Tai
Tokerau i runga o Mataatua" to the dean of the Medical School, Professor David Cole.
Te Tokotoko is for use by the dean and successive deans. Te Tokotoko is currently
held by the dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Professor Iain Martin.
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Audit Professors Ranginui Walker and Mason Drury
From this audit came the establishment of the department. That is, it separated
the Māori health unit from the Department of Community Health and
set up the Department of Māori and Pacific Health.
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Tōmairangi Paki Tōtara Tree
In 1996, a Tōtara tree was planted by Tōmairangi Paki to commemorate the opening
of Te Herenga Kōrero as the offices for the Department of Māori and Pacific Health.
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