He pūkenga, he rangatahi: Mya Tamamasui
Rangatahi: Mya Tamamasui
Project: Building the repository of mātauranga highlighting the legacy of Te Puea Memorial Marae: archiving and creating new taonga to preserve our stories
Iwi/Rohe: Te Kei o Te Waka Tainui, Waikato
Duration: November 2024- November 2025
Marae whānau hui, March 2025
By the end of year university exams in 2024, Mya (Waikato, Te Arawa) was booked in for the summer to take up a Rangatahi Internship with MILG, to work on a significant mātauranga preservation project for one of her iwi.
Te Puea Memorial Marae opened in 1965 and has diligently served whānau from Te Kei o te Waka Tainui and the wider community for many years. In 2023 the marae was put to rest to allow for key restoration efforts to begin in the lead up to the reopening and 60 years anniversary celebrations later this year.
I noho tahi mātou ko Mya ki te kōrero mō āna mahi, ōnā wheako me ngā āhuatanga o ngā mahi nei - Mya is about midway through her internship project and we caught up with her to see how the project has been going:
Pātai: Kōrero mai, tell us about your project and what it’s been like so far
Mya: My internship project has three parts to it; to create a tamariki pepeha book; a documentary showcasing 60 years of Te Puea Marae and a repository of our kōrero, histories and stories.
They all complement each other but have their own purpose and meaning individually and I’ve been learning so much about the marae, the history and the whānau who whakapapa and connect here as well.
Pātai: Do you have any highlights of the project so far?
Mya: All of it. No, I’m being serious! The project has compelled me to learn, absorb and seek stories about our Marae, that I otherwise might not have done so, at least at my young age and goals pertaining to university. It has been extremely refreshing to be in a working environment that is so close to my whaanau roots. The kids book has been awesome because not only does it have the pepeha of our marae so whānau can learn it for themselves, but you also get to see the maunga, the whenua and the marae. You get to learn the pepeha and visualise the landmarks, how everything comes together. The memories and stories we’re hearing from whānau will be archived for future generations - it’s really special.
Marae whānau hui, March 2025
Pātai: Why is it important for rangatahi to lead out on kaupapa or projects for their iwi, hapū and/or marae?
Mya: Rangatahi have a really unique perspective that any kaupapa would benefit from. Generally speaking, rangatahi have time, energy, patience… and for me reconnecting with my marae in this way, through this project - I was soaking everything up, like a blank canvas. This kaupapa required me to meet with kaumātua and whānau members and connect with them prior to production. This was my first time hearing their kōrero so I had nothing else to compare to, no preconceptions or too aware of any of the politics… I could just be there for the kōrero and the people.
I think rangatahi also bring a willingness to be part of kaupapa they know will be impactful and really cool for their people.
Pātai: Can you share what’s coming next for your project?
Mya: The next steps for this kaupapa involve the interview filming days, where we will be interviewing kaumātua and whānau of Te Puea Marae to film their stories and memories of the marae and the community that grew around it. This will take place over two weeks with tight timeframes, so at the moment I am deep in the coordination process making sure we have all the right processes in place to ensure the days run as smoothly as possible—from breakfast at 8am to the closing karakia after the filming concludes in the late afternoon.
Following the filming, the next phase will involve editing and revising the footage, along with meeting with the Te Puea Marae komiti to ensure the correct and appropriate tikanga have and will continue to be followed throughout the remainder of the project. Additionally, some rangahau will be conducted to supplement the project as we move toward finalisation in June, with the release planned for November of this year.
Koia kei a koe e Mya e kōkiri nei i tēnei kaupapa hei oranganuitanga mō tō iwi, mō tō marae, mo te puna mātauranga e!