Rachel Mata

“Come with an open mind and just give it a go. Te Haerenga teaches you things you won’t learn anywhere else. It helps you grow, connect and step into who you’re meant to be.”

Rachel Mata (Sāmoa — Manono Sagona, Leulumoega & Apolima) is the first recipient of the Tupu Pasifika Award, introduced by the Māori and Pacific Career Development and Employability Services (CDES) team to celebrate the growth, leadership, and success of our Pasifika tauira.

Rachel is the current President of Commerce o’ Pasifika and a member of the Pacific Island Law Student Association (PILSA). Through these roles, she continues to grow her leadership while giving back to her community.

Rachel joined Te Haerenga after hearing about the programme through a friend, initially seeing it as an opportunity to fill her timetable.

“I wasn’t sure what I was getting into at first, but as the workshops went on, I realised how important the skills were. They’re not things we’re learning in our lectures, but they’re so necessary for stepping into the professional world.”

Through experiences like the Deloitte visit and workshops, Rachel began to understand the importance of transferable skills and professional readiness.

One of the most impactful parts of the programme was the opportunity to connect with other tauira.

“It was nice to meet people outside of my degree and realise there are so many Pacific students across the university. It reminded me that we’re not alone, there’s an entire community of us.”

Te Haerenga also challenged Rachel to step outside of her comfort zone and take up opportunities with confidence.

“It helped me open up my shell and be more willing to go after opportunities instead of holding back.”

A defining takeaway for Rachel was learning that she does not need to leave her identity behind in professional spaces.

“Te Haerenga taught me that I can take my culture with me. The way I introduce myself, the way I carry myself. I don’t have to leave any part of me behind to succeed.”

She also valued learning how to navigate cultural responsibilities alongside professional expectations, particularly balancing commitments to family, church, and future career pathways.

Reflecting on her journey, Rachel encourages other Māori and Pacific tauira to take part in Te Haerenga:

“It’s only once every couple of weeks, but it has such a big impact. You grow your confidence, learn so much about yourself, and build connections that really matter.”