Rate My Professor Kiritea Smith

Kiritea Smith serves as Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa, or Project Manager, in the Office of Māori Development at the University of Otago. Affiliated with Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Tainui, and Ngāti Pukenga, she supports the university's Pae Tata Strategic Plan to 2030, particularly in the Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi domain. Her work fosters Māori cultural initiatives, student support, and strategic projects within Te Pou Koko Māori, collaborating with units like Te Huka Mātauraka and Te Poutama Māori.

In this role, Smith co-organizes the monthly Parāoa Parai Workshops alongside Krystle van der Salm, where students and staff learn to prepare traditional fried bread rooted in marae practices. These sessions promote manaakitanga and whanaungatanga through hands-on cooking demonstrations, cultural storytelling, and distribution of ingredient packs with bilingual recipe cards. A dedicated te reo Māori workshop coincided with Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, engaging approximately 50 participants. Smith emphasizes the value of these experiences: “Being so far away from home and having experienced something so familiar and similar to your own Indigenous culture is a significant treasure,” adding, “I find it important to share with other Māori something that may help someone reconnect to their culture or even foster an unknown passion for culture and/or food.” She has also guided raranga weaving sessions at wānanga events, such as a library gathering, using the activity as a metaphor for building whānau unity.

Smith contributed to the unveiling of a centrally located pou whenua named after Tāwhaki, the explorer of knowledge. She described its significance: “This particular narrative deeply connects with our students as they embark on their own personal quests for knowledge and realisation of their unique dreams and ambitions. It stands as a reminder of the rich history, traditional learning and knowledge of mana whenua.” Her efforts extend to events like Te Tī Ka Rito wānanga and campus-wide te reo Māori celebrations, enhancing cultural vibrancy. Prior to her current position, she worked as Communications Coordinator in the University of Otago College of Education following her studies there.