Jason faced challenges he couldn’t quite put into words when he started university.
It was 2007. He had been Dux at Hato Pāora College for Māori boys in Fielding. He was thriving academically, so when he chose to go to Massey and study, he picked science.
“Because I grew up in a Māori environment, I felt that studying something Māori was cheating, so, I thought ‘Well, I feel clever. I’m going to study something I’ve never studied before,’ and chose science.”
Looking back, “I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.” He was the only Māori boy in his class and freaked out. He turned up to all the classes, but was failing every paper. After 18 months, Massey excluded Jason from study.
When he left, he started labouring and kept questioning why he was struggling academically after such success in a Māori learning environment. He chose to come back to Massey and started excelling. After 4 years of study that “came with its struggles”, Jason graduated with a science degree and began working at Rangitāne, where his struggles made more sense. “I learned about the barriers Māori students face in mainstream education.”
“It hurt my wairua to realise I hadn’t recognised my own challenges, feeling out of place among peers and studying subjects disconnected from my Māori identity. That’s when I shifted my focus to hauora.”
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Jason took his own experience and the mātauranga he had learned from Sir Mason Durie and other rangatira to support rangatahi in ways he wished he had. “Now, I’m at the Puhoro STEM Academy, supporting Māori students interested in STEM.”
While at Puhoro helping the next generation have access to education fit for them, he’s begun study for a Master of Health Science focused specifically on Māori Health.
He’s been excelling – consistent A+ grades. As Jason puts it, “I needed a field that resonated with me and Māori health has done just that.”
Since returning to Massey, he’s been pleased with the improvements to Māori support at the university.
Massey has a Māori student advisory group, Te Rau Tauawhi who have kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) contact to help Māori students succeed. Every 6 months, Massey’s Te Rau Puawai programme for students in mental health fields meet for a noho wānanga.
Best of all, Jason says having Māori lecturers has made a significant difference. "They understand the barriers we face in mainstream education and offer invaluable advice. Listening to their stories reassures me that if they can overcome challenges, so can I.”
Massey has grown and committed to being a Te Tiriti-led university. That’s upheld with enhancing staff and student knowledge about Te Tiriti – something that, for Jason, put the university ahead of many others.
Jason’s study is squarely focused on hauora for Māori in Aotearoa. Combined with his part-time work as a CrossFit coach, he’s exploring health and activity programmes that are culturally responsive for Māori. His research is investigating the impact on participation, enjoyment and wellbeing when programmes integrate te ao Māori.
His dream is to “return home to Tūrangi.” He wants to create a hauora framework for his people in Ngāti Tūwharetoa, based on their pūrākau.
“I aim to create a framework that will endure beyond my lifetime – something intergenerational that can be utilised even when I am no longer here.”
He wants to give back, so that more Māori can understand their hauora and thrive like he did.
