Member Spotlight - Rauhina Kohuwai-Banks.

Rauhina Kohuwai-Banks is the Māori Archivist at the Hocken Collections, University of Otago Library, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. They are also the Te Uepū branch co-leader for the University of Otago branch, and Takatāpui Māori rep on the Industrial Professional Committee (IPC).

Ko Rauhina Kohuwai-Banks tōku ikoa, ko Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha me Ngāi Pākehā ōku iwi.

Tell us about your job – the great stuff and the challenges?

“My favourite part of my job is getting to connect people to taoka in our archival collections in a meaningful way, especially seeing people’s reactions to coming across a photo or something written by someone in their whānau, or even just a really fascinating manuscript.

“The biggest challenge of my job is advocating for systems that support Māori data sovereignty in the university sector.”

Why did you join your union?

“Being part of our union is important to me because I believe that collective industrial action is an underutilised tool we all have access to. I also love that it links us to our past and future – by joining a union, we acknowledge everyone who has gone before us who has fought for better pay and conditions, and we future-proof our professions by making sure we don’t allow things to get worse for those coming after us.

“I stepped up to take on a union role because I wanted to give back and to actively support our union’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi through Te Koeke Tiriti.”