Rāwinia Wikaira Email & Phone Number

Auckland, New Zealand

Through an internship with Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence, and the University of Auckland I am working at Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Auckland War Memorial Museum, on a project centred on Tangonge, an important taonga (treasure) dating back to the 14th-16th centuries. Known as the Kaitaia Carving or Lintel, Tangonge is considered one of the earliest surviving Māori carvings and holds profound cultural significance for Te Hiku o te Ika (Far North) iwi.My role involves researching archival records to produce a comprehensive report on Tangonge for Auckland Museum, Te Ahu Museum, and descendant whānau (families) of Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa. This project supports the Museum’s goal of becoming a Te Tiriti-led institution by strengthening its shared kaitiakitanga (guardianship) partnership with iwi and enabling iwi-led decision-making. The internship allows me to gain practical experience in museum practice, archival research, engagement with kaitiaki whānau, and taonga preservation. Additionally, I have the opportunity to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of museum professionals and engage with local iwi in Kaitaia, where Tangonge was originally discovered.

Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

Responsible for handling front office reception and administration duties, including greeting guests and offering them our service, answering phones, handling company inquiries in a professional and courteous manner, in person, on the telephone or via e-mail. I throughly enjoy this role as I get to work on a community level and build connections with clientele.

Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

I started my role as a tētēkura (student lead) at the University of Otago Sustainability Office in 2024 after finding out about them in 2023 while volunteering with them. In my current role, I help manage the university's thrift store, Te Oraka and coordinate various sustainability initiatives. This position allows me to be creative while requiring strong organisational and communication skills.

Auckland, New Zealand

Continuing on the Growing Futures Simulating Apple Orchards RA4 (Invertebrates) Project from last summer studentship. The Role of Invertebrates in Orchard Systems, is gathering data on the invertebrate communities and functions within orchard ecosystems, with a particular focus on responses to changes in orchard management and invertebrate movement within these complex ecosystems and throughout the wider landscape.

Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

I tutored Māori Society (MAOR102) and Animal Biology (BIOL112) to small groups at Arana College, a first year hall of residence, located in Dunedin. I helped students learn and understand new concepts and complete assignments. I prepared lessons by reviewing course content (lectures, textbooks and practicals) in detail to understand the topic I taught and I also provided additional homework if needed.

Auckland, New Zealand

I worked under the Invertebrate Diversity Team at PFR Mt Albert Site. I conducted field work (mainly deploying and removing traps to monitor invertebrate populations, setting up transects and using quadrats), filtered through reports to collect main conclusions and ideas about pest populations on orchards and how to manage them and also did a variety of different hands on tasks within PC1 and PC2 labs. This was an incredible programme to be apart of and helped me gain an understanding of what my future career could potentially look like.

Auckland, New Zealand

In this role, I helped to create a fun and safe environment for children aged 5 - 12. This role focused heavily on being clear and concise with my wording which I did in a friendly, professional and courteous manner to both children and their parents. I also organised and lead daily activities for the children.

Auckland, New Zealand

My main role was working as a Nightfill Staff Member which included tasks such as helping to clear product deliveries from the stockroom and display them on the shop floor, making sure the products were priced correctly and the store was clean and tidy. However, I also helped out with the checkout team on different occasions and the online shoppers team collecting online orders for customers.

Bachelor Of Arts And Science (Ba/Bsc), Māori Studies And Ecology

Activities and Societies: Te Roopū Māori Member 2022 - Present University of Otago Bike Club Social Representative 2023 Arana College.

Te Pokaitahi Reo – Te Kaupae 2, Te Reo Māori

Ncea Level 1 - 3

Activities and Societies: Senior Kapa Haka 2017 - 2021, Middle School Kapa Haka 2015 - 2016, Frances Compton Librarian, Netball.