This week has proven a few things for me and my team.

 

  1. Waiata is the backbone of the way I run my team, allowing music to pass through our offices to support creativity and collaboration.
  2. Student culture isn’t nearly as dead as we once thought.

 

For those of you even a little bit inquisitive, perhaps you’d noticed my derailing as 2022 went on, the pessimistic part of me taking over as I struggled to understand how complex students can be. There were moments littered of just pure frustration as I racked my brain trying to figure out why everyone wasn’t picking up the magazine. This is one of those moments where I have to admit my complete disregard for the resilience of rangatahi. 

 

The campus is pumping again, and by fuck it’s good to see all your smiling faces again homies. I’ve spoken to a large number of students with varying levels of understanding student media and what it is we’re trying to achieve here at Nexus. Mate we hardly know and we’re just throwing shit and seeing what sticks. Though what isn’t normal is how well received our beautifully designed (shout out Stien) shitpost of a mag is being received. Maybe I was too quick to judge?

 

We’re moving into a more contemporary universe and I’m sure there’s no way you haven’t noticed that our online content is heavy in photo and video, and this is a reaction to the world of student media and what it looks like. Look here, I’m a mid-20’s uncle-type just bumble-fucking my way through the world of student culture. I exist in this space to just speak the truth and violate some community guidelines. 

 

On the topic of Waiata, this week sees the established relationship between us and Craccum in Tamaki Makaurau. If you’re living under rock, then you may have missed the Māori Olympics, meaning Te Matatini wasn’t blaring through your workplace from dawn to dusk. Sucks to suck my bro. Mairātea (of Craccum royalty) and I decided to join forces as mana Māori in the student journalism space. Which is a fancy way of saying we wanted to talk kapa and you all had to be privy to the most formal shit-talk. Sorry, but not really.

 

I want you all to focus on something that you’re proud of this week. I got to sing Tiaho Mai Ra with someone I respect greatly–and we sounded amazing thank you. While this may seem so minute and not worthy of mention, being Māori is one of the biggest parts of my existence. Recently I’ve been thrust into spaces of Māoritanga and have basked in the ability to kōrero māori but share ideas with those who are trying/attempting to achieve the same message of uplifting māori-ness. So sure waiata-ā-ringa seems basic but it’s the culmination of being Māori but also just existing in a time of changing student culture. Chur my little homies, stay safe. 

 

– Matua Haki/Te Hoata