Tuākana Learning Communities' past awardees

Michaela Topia

Michaela has been described as a force of nature with an unrelenting passion for education. Her nurturing presence is overwhelmingly felt by everyone who enters the whare – a reflection of her innate ability to manaaki and her commitment to helping our tauira and the kaupapa of Tuākana. The Faculty of Arts have commented that Michaela’s strong Māori identity, generosity and willingness to share her knowledge of tikanga and Mātauranga Māori is done for the benefit of all – Māori mai, Tangata Moana, Tauiwi mai; her nurturing demeanour uplifts their whole team and all wider community.  

Pelimani Fisi’iahi

Pelimani is an expert in developing rapport with our students and is a pillar amongst Pacific male students, dedicating time and effort to sit down with each and every one of them, facilitating talanoa, providing pastoral care in a way that students are able to retain their mana and dignity. He has been described as developing, nurturing, and maintaining relationships with our students regardless of age, gender or ethnic background and works closely with the Māori Support Adviser to coordinate academic, pastoral and social events. Pasifika Success have highlighted how Pelimani encapsulates Waipapa Tātai Hono, continuously going over and beyond for our tauira to succeed.  

The 2024 Hākari celebrated 32 awardees, among them Ruby Macomber from Moana Oceania Academic Initiative and Tyla Harris Lafaele from Leadership Through Learning and Te Fale Pouāwhina. They were both honoured as recipients of the Waipapa Tātai Hono Award 2024.

Ruby Macomber

Ruby Macomber serves as the MAI Academic Skills Mentor at the Faculty of Law. Before joining the FOLAU Team, she was a Tuakana Arts Mentor. A remarkable wahine of Māori and Rotuman whakapapa, Ruby is both inspiring and intelligent. Beyond her academic accomplishments, she is a talented poet and activist dedicated to uplifting Pacific communities in Aotearoa.Ruby exemplifies the Moana Oceania values of love, reciprocity, and service. She generously shares her talents, wisdom, and passion with our Moana Oceania students, going above and beyond her role to ensure they receive the support necessary for academic success.

Tyla Harris Lafaele

Tyla is a confident Samoan wahine serving as a Learning Assistant with Leadership Through Learning at Te Tumu Herenga. Known for her kindness and independence, she brings infectious energy to her role and to the sibling team, Te Fale Pouāwhina.Grounded in aroha, faka’apa’apa, and tautua, Tyla shares her knowledge and nurtures relationships. This year, she has organized events like the Wā-sifika Fest, hosted wānanga for Māori and Pacific tauira, and collaborated with Kiwi Harvest to reduce food waste. Her commitment to community and studies makes her an outstanding recipient of the 2024 Waipapa Tātai Hono Award.Together, Ruby and Tyla exemplify the spirit of the Waipapa Tātai Hono Award, inspiring others through their dedication to service and their communities.