We have a very dynamic, vibrant, and skilled team, passionate about our people, culture and language and capable of transforming that passion into creative Indigenous Ingenious Innovations (i³).
Creatrix Team:
- Tania Haerekitera Wolfgramm (Conceptualist/ Executive Director/ Designer/ Kaitiaki)
- Udhay Kadiyala (Solutions Architect/Developer)
- Dr Rachel Maunganui Wolfgramm (Development Strategist)
- Wikuki Kingi, QSM (Creative Designer)
Language Advisory Board:
- Puroku Fraser Tawhai, Tohunga
- Te Uranga o Te Ra Kingi, Tohunga Whakairo, QSM
- Tevita Tapu’elu’elu Wolfgramm
Translation & Quality Assurance:
- Professor Richard Benton, Socio-Linguist
- Robert Newson, Human Rights Commisson
My special thanks to my cousin Rahuia Kapa for her passion, energy, skills, direction and advice, to Mariameno Kapa for her guidance and friendship, and to Edwina, Stevie and Natalie for their willing help and support. Aroha nui kia koutou katoa. Much love to you my Te Aupouri whanau.
Thanks also to my nephew Isaac Wolfgramm-Rolfe for his creative artistic design and programming skills. Malo aupito.
Kia ora Koutou.
Te Aupouri, Whakatōhea, Ngai Tai, Ngai Takoto, Vava’u, Tonga, European
BA (Hons), PGDipSci (Psych), Cultural Psychologist, Researcher, Evaluator, Designer
Tania graduated from the University of Auckland with an Arts Degree (Psychology/Sociology), an Honours degree (First Class) in Psychology, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Science (Psychology). Her studies have included cultural psychology, clinical psychology, neuropsychology, forensic psychiatry, criminology, philosophy and law. As a member of the Māori and Indigenous (MAI) Doctoral Studies Cohort at the University of Auckland, she is undertaking her post-graduate studies in socio-cultural psychology, focusing on addressing and redressing culturo-psychic disequilibrium.
She is a founding member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association, anzea, and as an experienced researcher and evaluator, she has undertaken a broad range of research projects with a number of Māori and Pacific providers of social services, including whānau/family health and wellness; skills and works programmes; and community development. Her particular skills include: applied community and participatory research, narrative and structured interviewing techniques, case study approaches (individual and group), focus group research, questionnaire design and observational research, qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques, grounded theory, content analysis, knowledge dissemination and transfer and developing models of implementation. The research methodologies are always tailored to meet the needs of the stakeholder groups.
The Māori/English Multilingual Keyboard (HAKAMANA) was initially conceptualised by Tania in August 2001, after realising that a computer keyboard designed and specifically configured for communication in Te Reo Māori did not exist. As the Concept Creator/ Development Strategist and director of Creatrix, she heads the research and development; layout configuration and design; project management of computer coding; testing and evaluation; marketing; production; accounts and administration; networking and scoping other languages for application of the Creatrix code to other Pacific, and Indigenous/endangered languages.
She is also passionate about the expression of culture through traditional technologies, and as Conceptualist/ Development Strategist/ Designer for Pou Kapūa Creations she has worked alongside the Pou Kapua Whakairo/carving team in the design and creation of a magnificent Taonga for Aotearoa. This 80 foot, 30 tonne sculpture of ancient kauri now stands in Manukau, a positive and powerful symbol of our identity, a gift from the tribes and people of Aotearoa to the world. She has been responsible for the background research, strategic and financial planning, funding requirements, systems accountabilities, coordination and administration, information dissemination, and relevant documentation requirements.
Tania remains very committed to the recognition and enhancement of Indigenous rights, and women’s and children’s rights. She loves playing with her beautiful tamariki and mokopuna, Janni, Darcy, Vinnie, and Aliyah Waimirirangi, enjoys Indigenous cultural activities, and likes swimming, basketball, reading, boxing, movies, music and dancing.
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A graduate of Massey University (BinfSci, PGDipBusAdmin), Udhay specialises in Business, Management and Administration with IT Specification, Information Systems, and Computer Science. He has extensive industry experience in designing and implementing information systems using a wide range of Microsoft technologies which integrate with an array of technologies available in the market.
He is experienced with designing and developing various information systems ranging from traditional n-tier applications to more recent service-oriented solutions. His experience has provided him with a deep understanding of software development life cycles, a fine grasp on various information system architectures and development methodologies and constantly evolving sets of analytical and problem-solving skills.
Gaining a deep understanding of whatever project he undertakes is his forte and what he strives to achieve. This approach has allowed him to research, design and implement effective technology solutions over the past few years for the benefit of his clients. Interacting with his clients to understand their business processes, providing them with thought leadership and helping them with redesigning and/or automating these processes to grow their businesses is of particular interest to him.
His professional expertise includes designing and developing integration solutions, understanding and using object oriented design patterns, tools and methodologies, understanding and using project management techniques and working with data warehousing related tools and technologies.
In between all his projects, Udhay loves to play soccer (striker of course), cricket and rugby, enjoys travelling, aero-modelling, fishing and rock-climbing, and having fun with family and friends.
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Te Aupouri, Whakatōhea, Ngai Tai, Ngai Takoto, Vava’u, Tonga, European
Lecturer (University of Auckland), PhD, BCom, PGDipCom, Consultant/Researcher
Rachel graduated from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1997 (International Business and Management) and a Post Graduate Diploma of Commerce (Management & Employment Relations) 2001 after returning to tertiary education as an adult student under the MOPAS scheme in 1993. She has completed her PhD in indigenous organisational culture (University of Auckland School of Business).
Rachel identifies as Māori (Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa, Whakatōhea) and Pacific (Tongan). She was born in Aotearoa/New Zealand but has spent several years in the Pacific, including Tonga, Fiji and Tahiti. The multi-cultural upbringing that she experienced has shaped and informed her life and education and continues to inform her teaching and research. She has support structures and networks in the Māori and Pacific communities that she consults with on a regular basis. It is because she is a Māori and Pacific person that she is passionate about and driven to undertake research in the cultural complexities of these organisations. It is because of her identity that she wants Māori and Pacific organisations to successfully understand their strengths and uniqueness in the context of development.
Her research and teaching provides a training ground for Māori and Pacific practitioners, and also empowers them. She believes that she has demonstrated leadership and vision by applying her values, successfully transforming them into teaching programmes that educate, enlighten and empower Māori, Pacific and Indigenous people which gives them strength and further incentive to grow economically. This leads to their social advancement with many valuable, positive and productive outcomes. It is this combination and application of traditional knowledge and contemporary knowledge that provides a platform for competitiveness of Māori and Pacific organisations which is unique to them.
Her PhD research explores and examines the dynamics of cultural complexity, continuity and vitality of tikanga Māori across a diverse range of contemporary Māori organisations. Her interest in indigenous perspectives and world-views in the context of management and organisational studies was encouraged by her post-graduate lecturers and mentors Dr Manuka Henare, Ella Henry and Dr Judith Pringle. Discussions with academics such as Professor Cornell (Harvard Business School Research on Native American Indian Development) and Associate Professor Warren Weir (University of Saskatchewan) served to stimulate her interest in broader indigenous development issues. Her research interests also include creativity and innovation in Māori, Pacific and indigenous business and gendered organisational lives. She has engaged in initial research in both areas and has presented and published internationally in the latter area with Dr. Judith Pringle.
She is currently employed as a full-time lecturer in the Department of Management and Employment Relations. Her research affiliations include Mira Szàszy Research Centre, Sir James Henare Research Centre, The Pacific Consultancy Group and she is an active member of the MAI (Māori and Indigenous) PhD cohort. As an advocate for Māori and Pacific post-graduate research, she and a colleague Iris Turoa organised the inaugural cross-disciplinary conference for Māori and Pacific post-graduate students in 2001. This was sponsored by the University of Auckland Business School and the MIRA Szàszy Centre for Māori and Pacific Economic Development. She recently convened (at the invitation of Professor Linda Smith of Nga Pae o te Māramatanga, Centre for Research Excellence) the national workshop for MAI PhD students with the prospect of organising the Inaugural National MAI PhD Scholars Conference. She continues to participate effectively in the process of developing, growing, fostering, supporting international links and networks.
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Ngai Tai, Te Whanau a Apanui, Ngati Mahuta, Kati Mamoe, Ngati Whatua, Maui, Hawaii
PGDipBus, MMgnt (current) Project Manager/Designer, Carver/Artist, Researcher, Educator
Wikuki Kingi is the Manager and Executive Designer of Pou Kapūa Creations. A Master Carver of over thirty year’s experience, he has created many taonga, including the intricately carved masterpiece Pou Kapūa, the tallest Māori/Pacific carving in the world which you can see on www.poukapua.com. He is the son of Te Uranga O Te Rā Kingi, Tohunga Whakairo and Chief Carver for the Māori Queen Te Arikinui, Dame Te Ata-i-Rangi Kāhu. He is an elite carver of Te Ranga Carving School, the Queens appointed traditional carvers. He is the grandson of Inia Te Wiata, creator of the Pou Ihi that stands in New Zealand House, London.
Wikuki has been a Kirikiriroa Marae member since 1984, actively involved in the strategic development and planning of the marae and the many education, health and social services programmes that it supports. Wikuki has been involved in the strategic development and planning of dozens of carving projects. This involves establishing relationships with stakeholders, fostering trust, exploring ideas, confirming intent, research, design and managing carving and artworks, dissemination of material. Some of these projects include:
- Client/s, Communities Project – Carving/artworks:
Waikato Museum of Art & History
Hamilton Te Winika Gallery
14 pou 16 ft high
Assistant Curator and established the displays
Kirikiriroa Marae, Hamilton Whare Tupuna
Māori Community, Perth, Australia 40 ft war canoe
Tainui Endowment College Tawhaki – 64 ft pou
Wu Xi City, China (Hamilton Sister City) Gateway
Trust Waikato 12 ft model war canoe
Hui Te Rangiora Marae, Hamilton Carvings and gateway for Marae
Whatawhata Marae, Raglan Flagpole
Frankton Primary School Entrance gateway
Whatawhata Primary School Entrance gateway
Whanganui Bay, Taupo Whare Tupuna
Whitianga Marae Whare Tupuna
Te Arikinui Te Ata-i-rangi Kahu
Wikuki has been part of Te Ranga Carvers, the personal carvers of the Māori Queen since our inception, and have been privileged to do many pieces, ranging from bowls, waka hoia, weapons, canoe paddles in a variety of materials. Each piece is unique, specially crafted and of exceptional quality. Hundreds of gifts to overseas visitors inc.
• King of Tonga
• Nelson Mandela
• Queen Elizabeth II
• Pope John Paul II
• Archbishop of Canterbury
• President Carter
• Prime Ministers of New Zealand,
• Ratu Sir Kamasese Mara
• Other Kings, Queens, Heads of State, Ambassadors, Commissioners and Consuls from around the world
Torere Marae Whare Tupuna
Sacramento California (Hamilton Sister City) 2 Poupou
University of Wisconsin 1 Poupou and 2 Maihi
Auckland International Airport Gateway entrance to airport
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Adjunct Professor (Research) Specialist Socio-Linguistics
Richard Benton is from Kororareka (Russell) in the Bay of Islands. He first became interested in research through the influence of Hoera Kanara, Pako Heka, Henare Te Nana and other kaumätua who taught him about Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa and Ngapuhi whakapapa and history in the early 1960s.
Sir James and other of members of the Henare family, along with various kaumatua and kuia who had been involved in politics in the 1930s and 40s, also encouraged him to study the political history of the Northern Maori electorate during the term of the late Tau Henare, MHR. (These studies are still far from complete!) During this time he was also an apprentice under the late George Waititi on carvings for Tü Matauenga wharenui, Otiria. He began a career in research after being awarded a JR McKenzie Research Fellowship in 1963 (he was Charge Hand at the Duke of Marlborough Hotel bottle store at the time), and has been an advocate of bilingual education in New Zealand since then.
He completed a PhD in Linguistics at the University of Hawaii in 1971, and has studied, written about and lectured on language policy, language rights, revitalization of minority languages, the education of linguistic and cultural minorities, and related subjects in the Pacific, Southeast Asia, Europe and North America. He was a foundation member of Nga Kaiwhakapumau i te Reo, and an active participant in planning strategy and preparing the brief for the Te Reo Maori claim and subsequent court cases and negotiations with government agencies and authorities initiated by Nga Kaiwhakapumau and the NZ Maori Council.
He has had a long-standing interest in holistic approaches to community development, and alternative approaches to land use which could lead to sustainable organic food production and the regeneration of native flora and fauna. From 1971-1996 he was Tumuaki, Te Wahanga Kaupapa Maori of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research in Wellington, and then spent some time as Deputy Director of the Centre for Maori Studies and Research at the University of Waikato. While at the University of Waikato he was also involved in planning and later research for the FRST-funded research programme Laws and Institutions for Aotearoa / New Zealand, hosted by the University's Matahauariki Institute. He was also asked to take over the academic direction of the James Henare Maori Research Centre's Taitokerau Dictionary in 1999 to enable the late Professor Bruce Biggs, whose health was failing at the time, to concentrate on other urgent projects.
Richard Benton became Director of the James Henare Maori Research Centre in October 1999, on the retirement of Dr Dorothy Urlich Cloher, and was the convenor of the academic programme committee for the December 2000 Conference of the International Consortium for Experiential Learning. Although the Taitokerau Dictionary was certainly the project which he would have liked to concentrate on, most of his time as Director of the Centre was devoted to the Centre's work on sustainable development and social and economic wellbeing in urban areas. However, he was responsible for ensuring that an on-line version of the dictionary was produced. This was launched in Kaeo in December 1991, and made available through the Centre's web site. Since the Centre went into recess at the beginning of 2004 and the University closed the web site, the dictionary project has continued as a voluntary activity, with the on-line files hosted and maintained on the through the "Rakiora" web site.
Dr Benton is an active member of a number of national and international committees and groups, including the Council of the Polynesian Society, the Biodiversity Committee of the Royal Society of New Zealand, the International Advisory Board of TerraLingua, the Waikato Branch of the NZ Tree Crops Association and the Taitokerau Organic Producers Incorporated Society. From 1997-2003 he was a member of the Social Science Subcommission of the NZ National Commission for UNESCO. He retired as Director of the James Henare Maori Research Centre at the end of 2003, and is currently an Adjunct Professor (Research) at the University of Waikato, working with a team at Te Mätähauariki Institute on the Laws and Institutions research programme. He is also an Honorary Research Fellow with the Department of Political Studies at the University of Auckland, and an Associate Researcher with the Ngati Hine research team working on the "Paeatatü - Landscape Transformation and Human Interaction in the Bay of Islands, 1769-1840" project, sponsored by the Marsden Fund. When he gets a chance to escape from academic and administrative concerns, Richard Benton is involved with his family in developing a small olive and fig plantation and self-sustaining organic farm which will double as an educational resource centre contributing to small-scale sustainable development using natural systems approaches.
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