Student Focus: Prayash Chhetri
Thank you Prayash for volunteering your time to be our featured student for this edition of Library Life! We enjoy highlighting students who are on their way to completing their qualification in library sciences and information and connecting them to the community they’ll be part of. TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF I was born and raised by my kuia (grandmother) in Tahoon, Nepal. Tahoon is my ūkaipō (origin) and ipukarea (homeland). We migrated to Sunwal, Nepal which is where my mātua (elders) now live. When it comes to my educational and career background, I see Aotearoa as a turning point. Before coming to Aotearoa, I was an engineering graduate. I worked as a test and business analyst for eight years. In 2017 I moved to Aotearoa and lived in Tāmaki Makaurau for the first two years. My photography interest brought me to Te Whanganui-a-Tara where I joined Massey University’s College of Creative Arts in 2019. I finished the second year then decided to pursue other interests, mātauranga Māori (knowledge) being one of them. I have worked at Te Whare Toi City Art Galleryand in a library and have just started my mahi at Archives New Zealand Te Rua o te Kāwanatanga. I guess I know where I am heading next. I am also a full-time ākonga student at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki. |
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN STUDYING AND WHAT QUALIFICATION ARE YOU CURRENTLY STUDYING TOWARDS?
I joined the Heke Puna Maumahara at the beginning of this year. It is a one-year diploma course.
WHAT ENCOURAGED YOU TO DO THE HEKE PUNA MAUMAHARA PROGRAMME?
When I joined Massey University, several papers were based on kaupapa Māori (topic). I was struggling to understand the essence of those kaupapa as they were based on matauranga Māori. At the same time, I was exploring my relationship with Te Tiriti as a manuhiri. I was also working at Te Whare Toi when I got a job in the library. It became an immense importance to me to understand what, why, how of art and information from a te ao Māori lens. That’s why I joined the maumahara tohu (course). While I was working at Te Awe Library, I met kaumatua Ann Reweti, Te Ati Awa who encouraged and supported my intention. I also have support from other kaumātua from Waiwhetu Marae, who not only welcomed me to the marae but believed in me. All of this would not have been possible without Ann’s help and my immediate managers who supported me.
I joined the Heke Puna Maumahara at the beginning of this year. It is a one-year diploma course.
WHAT ENCOURAGED YOU TO DO THE HEKE PUNA MAUMAHARA PROGRAMME?
When I joined Massey University, several papers were based on kaupapa Māori (topic). I was struggling to understand the essence of those kaupapa as they were based on matauranga Māori. At the same time, I was exploring my relationship with Te Tiriti as a manuhiri. I was also working at Te Whare Toi when I got a job in the library. It became an immense importance to me to understand what, why, how of art and information from a te ao Māori lens. That’s why I joined the maumahara tohu (course). While I was working at Te Awe Library, I met kaumatua Ann Reweti, Te Ati Awa who encouraged and supported my intention. I also have support from other kaumātua from Waiwhetu Marae, who not only welcomed me to the marae but believed in me. All of this would not have been possible without Ann’s help and my immediate managers who supported me.
CAN YOU TELL OUR READERS ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE SO FAR AND WHAT YOU ENJOY MOST IN YOUR STUDIES? I am enjoying every bit of the course, especially attending noho kanohi-ki-te-kanohi (face-to-face classes). Just being inside the main lecture theatre - Te Kete Uruuru Rangi - is the best experience so far. One can read and understand the meaning of mauri, mana, wairua – but all of those can be felt in that one space. I enjoy most listening to kōrero (talk) from rangatira (leaders) Ani Pahuru-Huriwai, Sandy Nepia, Hinerangi Himiona, Bernard Makoare, Vicki Anne Heikell. I did not expect so many rangatira, who are widely recognised for their skills and expertise as our guest pūkenga (lecturer). This shows how much effort the wānanga put into this course. |
Manākitanga (kindness, generosity) and whanaungatanga (relationships) are some of the guiding values of Te Wānanga o Raukawa. Those values are practiced, used, and experienced at every stage of the course. The course respects every individual and the knowledge they bring with them. Which is another way of balancing the mana of an individual and the world they come from. These guiding values which are taonga tuku iho (context) is what makes this programme special and unique.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING DOING THE PUNA MAUMAHARA PROGRAMME?
If you are working or considering a career in the GLAMIR sector, then I would highly recommend this tohu. When one thinks of education and knowledge, we tend to look for a university or polytechnic. Of course, they are good. But then there are wānanga where you gain both value and skills-based learning. Also, the opportunity to learn from rangatira is what this course provides. In my first year alone I have met and learnt from so many of them. I am already excited about my second year.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM JOB AFTER YOU RECEIVE YOUR QUALIFICATION?
My dream job is to work in the GLAMIRsector where tikanga and te reo from both Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Pākehā have equal mana and are implemented with full conscience as opposed to a check box thing. I also want to help iwi, hapū and whānau in preserving their taonga tuku iho (customs) in return for sharing their whenua (land) and te reo (language) with my wahine (woman) and I.
IF YOU COULD RECOMMEND ONLY ONE BOOK OR INFORMATION SOURCE TO SOMEONE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Now that is a tough question, I am a slow reader which means there are several pukapuka (books) in reading list. So far, Tikanga by Sir Hirini Moko Mead is one book I would recommend. That pukapuka has been an amazing taonga(treasure) to me, the book is my go-to guide to understand more about tikanga. It has been so many examples and explanations from te ao Māori which are very relatable.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE LIBRARY/MUSEUM/GALLERY OF THE FUTURE MIGHT LOOK LIKE?
I am an optimist and a dreamer. When I was growing up in my kuia’s lap in some distant corner of Nepal, I never imagined that one day I would live in Aotearoa and start learning te reo o te whenua (language of the land) and tikanga tuku iho (custom). Thus, change is slowly happening, and change is here to stay forever. That means institutional repositories like galleries, libraries, archives, and museums will be a true amalgamation of bicultural values and knowledge. One must be able to confidently access information in te reo Māori like they do in te reo Pākehā today, and kōrero in te reo. I hope these institutions will uphold the tikanga (practice) from both te ao and build a collective memory of a nation as a bicultural citizen.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING DOING THE PUNA MAUMAHARA PROGRAMME?
If you are working or considering a career in the GLAMIR sector, then I would highly recommend this tohu. When one thinks of education and knowledge, we tend to look for a university or polytechnic. Of course, they are good. But then there are wānanga where you gain both value and skills-based learning. Also, the opportunity to learn from rangatira is what this course provides. In my first year alone I have met and learnt from so many of them. I am already excited about my second year.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM JOB AFTER YOU RECEIVE YOUR QUALIFICATION?
My dream job is to work in the GLAMIRsector where tikanga and te reo from both Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Pākehā have equal mana and are implemented with full conscience as opposed to a check box thing. I also want to help iwi, hapū and whānau in preserving their taonga tuku iho (customs) in return for sharing their whenua (land) and te reo (language) with my wahine (woman) and I.
IF YOU COULD RECOMMEND ONLY ONE BOOK OR INFORMATION SOURCE TO SOMEONE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Now that is a tough question, I am a slow reader which means there are several pukapuka (books) in reading list. So far, Tikanga by Sir Hirini Moko Mead is one book I would recommend. That pukapuka has been an amazing taonga(treasure) to me, the book is my go-to guide to understand more about tikanga. It has been so many examples and explanations from te ao Māori which are very relatable.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE LIBRARY/MUSEUM/GALLERY OF THE FUTURE MIGHT LOOK LIKE?
I am an optimist and a dreamer. When I was growing up in my kuia’s lap in some distant corner of Nepal, I never imagined that one day I would live in Aotearoa and start learning te reo o te whenua (language of the land) and tikanga tuku iho (custom). Thus, change is slowly happening, and change is here to stay forever. That means institutional repositories like galleries, libraries, archives, and museums will be a true amalgamation of bicultural values and knowledge. One must be able to confidently access information in te reo Māori like they do in te reo Pākehā today, and kōrero in te reo. I hope these institutions will uphold the tikanga (practice) from both te ao and build a collective memory of a nation as a bicultural citizen.
Did you know recent graduates automatically qualify to apply for RLIANZA?
Victoria University of Wellington Master of Library and Information Studies and Open Polytechnic qualifications are recognised by the LIANZA Professional Registration Board as meeting the LIANZA Professional Registration Bodies of Knowledge (BoKs). Graduates who are LIANZA members just need to pay the initial application fee of $57.50 and submit an application form with a copy of their qualification to become professionally registered. You then start collecting professional evidence over the next three years in order to revalidate. RLIANZA shows your peers and employers that you have demonstrated a commitment to professional standards, and to developing and enhancing competence.
READ MORE >
Victoria University of Wellington Master of Library and Information Studies and Open Polytechnic qualifications are recognised by the LIANZA Professional Registration Board as meeting the LIANZA Professional Registration Bodies of Knowledge (BoKs). Graduates who are LIANZA members just need to pay the initial application fee of $57.50 and submit an application form with a copy of their qualification to become professionally registered. You then start collecting professional evidence over the next three years in order to revalidate. RLIANZA shows your peers and employers that you have demonstrated a commitment to professional standards, and to developing and enhancing competence.
READ MORE >