The WSU unveiled its new name with a Karakia and a kai, in an intimate ceremony for staff, guests, and alumni on March 25th in the Sub Zero Lounge of the Student Union Building.
Te Awa Kōtui was unveiled as a replacement for the previous translative name of the Waikato Students’ Union and was adopted for use in an event organised and catered by the WSU Experience team .
“The name gives recognition to the river (awa) that flows through the Waikato, and speaks to the journey of our tauira who also flow through the campus on their journey in life. It also talk of the binding of those tauira to our institution and how both impact the other, even if only briefly but are linked forever.” Said Vice-President Māori Te Paea Parengaio Maurirere.
“It is also good to have a name that doesn’t sound like it came from chat GPT” she added, before acknowledging the countless people in the room and those who couldn’t make it who had helped to get the organisation to this day.
These sentiments were echoed by Te Awa Kōtui President Seamus Lohrey, who said that “The desire to change the name had been a long journey in itself, going back a few decades at least and that it is a legacy that doesn’t belong to a single board but the combined will of several board members, the General Manager, and the staff.”
The name itself was developed after significant consultation with Māori academic and operational staff of Te Whare Whananga O Waikato, finally being endorsed by Dr Tom Roa. But the project itself was largely driven by Seamus, Te Paea, and the former President / President Emeritus Temepara Smith.
Speaking at the event, General Manager of Te Awa Kōtui David West said that he had “Always repped the WSU Brand with pride, especially on cold nights in Re-Orientation buses where he would wear up to five layers of WSU Merch. And he couldn’t be prouder to wear the brand than he will be with the new logo.”
In attendance among the crowd of Rōpū Māori representatives and staff of the organisation were WSU Life Members Nathan Rahui (who is legally obligated to be invited any time there is a kai), and Whetu Taukamo, lovingly referred to as Unc’s during the ceremony. Other attendees included one of Nexus favourite Vice-President Māori, Areta Ranginui-Charlton, University of Waikato Director of Student Services & Pastoral Care Brett McEwan, and friend of the WSU Naianga Tapiata who led the ceremony and performed the blessing Karakia on behalf of the organisation and the University.
The new logo has already been incorporated into existing WSU Brand guidelines and has both formal and informal variants as well as colour palettes for Waikato and Tauranga. Branding in the WSU’s social media and web presence. Further changes to branding, clothing, and exterior signage will be adopted in due course.
