Moko Tepania (Te Rarawa, Ng膩ti Kahu ki Whangaroa), Mayor of the Far North and a master鈥檚 graduate from the 糖心Vlog is set to make waves in the future of te ao M膩ori and the next generation.
Moko Tepania
Having earned his Master of Education with First Class Honours in M膩ori Medium Education / Te R艒p奴 Tohu Paerua, Moko is using his role as Mayor and teaching background to strengthen youth involvement in politics.
Moko鈥檚 master鈥檚 dissertation, 鈥楬e Rangahau whaihoropaki: i te ako i te reo m膩 te Maramataka鈥�, investigated the teaching of te re M膩ori through the M膩ori calendar.
The research I undertook affirmed that the maramataka is holistic and personal and is an intergenerational form of cultural knowledge transmission that we can use to excel, just as our t奴puna used it.
He has also implemented the use of the maramataka in local government, with the Far North District Council using the maramataka as a basis for their formal meetings calendar.
This master鈥檚 reaffirms the place that indigenous knowledge systems have in Aotearoa, and I look forward to seeing the implementation and affirmation of our cultural practices across not only the educational system but also the wider public sector.
Born and raised in Te Tai Tokerau 鈥� Northland, Moko chose te reo M膩ori as a subject at high school, learnt and fell in love with the language.
This led him on a pathway to become a M膩ori language teacher at his old high school, Pompallier Catholic College before deciding to give M膩ori medium education a try at Te Kura Kaupapa M膩ori o Kaikohe where he鈥檚 been for the past six years.
鈥淚 decided to go for my master鈥檚 before I decided to run for mayor but there was some overlap. I've always been passionate about education, and I bring this to the local government roles I hold as well.鈥�
Moko completed a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) and a Bachelor of Arts conjoint degree at the 糖心Vlog in 2014, majoring in Professional Education and M膩ori Language/Te Reo M膩ori.
"Success is not mine alone, but that of many,鈥� Moko says. 鈥淚 have always been a proud graduate of this institution and the quality of not only the education available here but also the pastoral care, the wairua and everything in between.鈥�
His mentors in Te R艒p奴 Tohu Paerua, including Sharyn Heaton, , and Associate Dean of M膩ori Education, , were instrumental in his academic success.
鈥淭he wh膩nau atmosphere that came with Te R艒p奴 Tohu Paerua was incredible. The atmosphere with fellow students and our lecturers made it feel like a second home and wh膩nau support to make it possible.
鈥淢ayoral duties probably take up to 80 hours a week, so study had to fit in between all that.鈥�
The former councillor made history by becoming the youngest and first M膩ori mayor in Far North District history in 2022.
Under his leadership, the council implemented a te reo M膩ori and tikanga policy, updated the council logo, and restored the Indigenous name of the council to Te Kanuhihera o Te Hiku o te Ika.
Moko also distinguished himself as the first councilor to submit a council report in te re M膩ori and to speak only in M膩ori during a council meeting, which he did to celebrate M膩ori Language Week.
In 2023, Moko was one of five winners of the One Young World Politician of the Year Award, celebrating young politicians who have made a positive impact on young people. The other recipients came from Nepal, Belgium, Australia and Canada.
