Ka mua, ka muri: A new chapter for Poho

It’s a new chapter for Poho – our dedicated common room and student space for Māori learners at the Dunedin campus.

The area has recently undergone a major upgrade, transforming Poho into a vibrant, welcoming space that celebrates culture, connection and belonging.

“This wasn't just a refurbishment, it was a true community effort,” says Rebecca Swindells, Tumuaki Whakaruruhau at Otago Polytechnic.

Over a three week period, kaimahi, ākonga and whānau came together to paint, build, move furniture and add the finishing touches, all with our ākonga at the heart of every decision.

“Poho is more than just a room,” insists Rebecca.

“It's a place where ākonga can study, connect, share kai, access support and feel a genuine sense of belonging.”

“A huge mihi to everyone who gave their time, energy and talent to bring this vision to life.  We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved together.”

Rebecca made special acknowledgement of one of our talented ākonga, Aidan Geraghty, whose stunning designs have become the centrepiece of the upgraded space.

Aidan (Ko Ngāi/Kāi Tahu te iwi) is halfway through a Master of Fine Arts. He moved across to Otago Polytechnic a few years ago to study arts qualifications, after finding many of the learning models at university didn’t suit his style and felt too impersonal.

After joining the Te Punaka Ōwheo mentoring rōpū at the start of the year as a Tuakana, Aidan got chatting with the leadership team and offered his skills as an artist with a history in mural/graffiti work to liven up the akomanga for our whānau Māori.

“The TPO kaimahi made sure this project had the support it needed from day dot,” he says.

“Without their awhina, this project wouldn't have happened.”

Aidan says he was given broad creative freedom in his designs, which are themed around Te Timataka Pūrākau i te tirohaka Kāi Tahu - the Kāi Tahu creation narrative.

POHO BEFORE:

POHO AFTER:

“Naku te rourou nau te rourou ka ora ai te iwi,” says Aidan.

“It is incredibly humbling to have seen the efforts of our tauira me kaimahi who put in the mahi to get this space off the ground. He nui te mihi ki Rebecca, Kylie, Tori, Terainamu, Max rātou ko Woody mō to awhina ki te kaupapa.”

“To see our ākonga be proud of a space the in which they call theirs is truly a blessing, a great tohu for the things to come for our tauira Māori kei Te Kura Matatini ki Ōtākou.”