DrSandy Hata

Sandy (Te Tāwera/Ngāti Tionga) hails from the Bay of Plenty, and her main tribal affiliations are to Iramoko Marae, based in the Manawahe Ranges, and Rangiaohia Marae, located in the coastal town of Matatā.

As a Senior Lecturer Sandy believes that the classroom is not just the four walls that are our learning space. A student's learning journey is not just a journey of the mind, it is also a journey of the heart and lived experience. Their academic achievement not only supports their personal and professional aspirations, it also supports and benefits the aspirations of their whānau, hapū, iwi and community.

Being a second language learner of te reo Māori, Sandy fully understands and appreciates the challenges of not only being an adult learner, but also learning a new language. Both Sandy's masters and doctorate research were written in te reo Māori and focussed on Māori language development using mōteatea [laments] as a vehicle to explore and express cultural identity, and also look at the nuances of the language used in composition. 

Sandy welcomes enquiries from potential Masters and PhD students interested in pursuing topics across the fields of Māori cultural identity, Māori language development and composition.