EIT recruit to weave Ma¯ori
Assistant head brings fresh perspective
Michelle Lee feels that the strands of her diverse career are bound together in Ma¯tauranga Ma¯ori, and this is what she brings to her new role at EIT.
As inaugural Poutuara (assistant head of school) of Te ranga Waka and Te Whatukura, when asked about a future vision, Michelle doesn’t hold with the policy of ‘new broom sweeps clean’. Instead, her approach is to analyse what is successful and do more of it.
“Identify the good stuff and spread it further,” is her view.
“I will look to support what is already happening well with a fresh perspective, both here and at the Taira¯whiti campus in Gisborne.”
With a Masters of Art and Design, her research focus has been her transmedia art practice and eLearning design.
Expanding research, embedding online learning and helping weave Ma¯tauranga Ma¯ori through all EIT courses are a few of her initial goals.
“I’ll be reaching out, looking at partnerships and opportunities to be innovative.”
Originally trained as a teacher, Lee has had a variety of roles including lecturing at several institutes of technology and polytechnics, universities and within the New Zealand health sector.
During her time at Unitec, Michelle progressed from lecturer to Kaihautu¯ Ma¯tauranga Ma¯ori, responsible for embedding Ma¯ori pedagogy across the institute.
Of Nga¯i Tahu, Nga¯ti Waewae, Ka¯ti Mamoe, Nga¯ti Kahungunu, Waitaha, Nga¯ti Rurua descent, Lee and her husband arrived in Hawke’s Bay in mid-2017.
Before joining EIT, she worked at MTG as curator of Taonga Ma¯ori, which as a globally significant collection should be championed more, she believes.
“It was an incredible honour to work with our people’s taonga and a wonderful entrance into being here in Hawke’s Bay.”
For the last seven years, Lee has also run her own television and transmedia production company, Kapu Ti Productions Limited.
Travelling around Aotearoa filming her Ma¯ori language shows provided the opportunity to explore “where to next”.
Both she and her husband were raised in semi-rural areas and were looking to return to the values and aspirations that they were brought up with.
“Hawke’s Bay called to us as a place we could make home.
“We are deeply grateful to the beautiful manaakitanga that Nga¯ti Kahungunu is known for. Having experienced that first-hand we’ve felt embraced and valued.”