Kahu Donovan Te Whaiti

Assistant Communication Advisor

Where do you hail from?
I am Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāi Tahu. However, I grew up in Rotorua and spent my childhood learning about Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa (Ngāti Hinewaka) who my whānau have strong affiliations with. Moving down to Ōtautahi and through my role at Te Rūnanga, I have been given the chance to reconnect with Ngāi Tahu whānau.

What do you do?
I am an assistant communications advisor, which is a flash way of saying I help write stuff, such as communications plans, media releases and the occasional article for TE KARAKA. I also get the opportunity to use a range of media tools such as photo, video and social media as part of my role. However, my major focus is taking care of the beloved Te Pānui Rūnaka. I lead the editing team, gather copy, edit, and then work with the designers and printers to produce a magazine almost every month.

How did you get here - give us a brief of your career/study path so far?
This is my first 'real job' out of university. I studied a Bachelor of Communications for three years at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). After graduating I went back for more, completing a Graduate Diploma in International Relations and Cultural Studies. Upon completion I was hoping to enter the Royal New Zealand Airforce as an Intelligence Officer, however the position was not available until 2011. By then I had applied for and started my role at Te Rūnanga.

What do you like most about your role?
Through my role I have had the pleasure of meeting Ngāi Tahu whānau throughout the motu, both young and old. It is great to meet the faces in the photos, the people on the other end of an email or a phone call. This makes me care about my work, because I have an understanding and a connection to the people I am working for; Ngāi Tahu whānau katoa.

How would you describe the organisation culture?
We have a shared goal in our communications team, which I like to think sums up Te Rūnanga culture. We all try to be – 'Brofessionals' who specialise in 'Awesomeness'. Which means we do everything professionally to a high level… and with a dash of 'bro'. The organisation is very accepting and quiet relaxed. Often emails are signed off with 'chur' or 'bro'. In the morning it is 'kia ora', 'ata marie' and at night 'pomarie', 'ka kite'. These words don't just hang there as 'te reo' tokenisms, they sit along Māori values of manaaki and whakawhanaukataka, where people are willing to help, and willing to get to know you.

What development opportunities have you had?
I have had the opportunity to complete courses related to my role, such as an I-write editing and proofreading course. Also I am working alongside very experienced communications advisors, journalists and photographers, who help me to learn on the job. I have also had a lot of personal development opportunities. At the start of this year I went on Aoraki Bound, which is a 20-day course run collaboratively between Outward Bound and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. It is the only indigenous partnership programme of its kind in the world. We travelled in the footsteps of our tupuna, from the northern boundary to the foot of Aoraki. Along the journey I learnt more about the history of Ngāi Tahu. Also I have had the opportunity to go on hīkoi in Fiordland and around the Ōtākou peninsula, learning about Ngāi Tahu history in these areas, further connecting me to our people, and the people Te Rūnanga work for.