‘Do You Deserve It?’: Wāhine Māori, Kauae Expectations, and TikTok
Tracks
Ballroom 4 - In-Person Only
| Monday, October 12, 2026 |
| 11:35 AM - 12:05 PM |
| Ballroom 4 |
Overview
Mia-Mae Taitimu-Stevens & Veronika Iloilo, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University Of Auckland
Three Key Learnings
1. Identity Negotiation: The tension between birthright (whakapapa) and meritocracy (fluency) for moko kauae addresses how communities define belonging and cultural authority.
2. Digital Storytelling: TikTok acts as a contemporary "living system" for sharing pūrākau, facilitating the modern transmission of collective memory and knowledge.
3. Resistance and Survival: The resurgence of moko kauae serves as a collective 'signal of resistance', functioning as foundational infrastructure for community strength and cultural continuity.
Presenter
Ms Veronika Iloilo
Programme Lead - Leadership Through Learning
Waipapa Taumata Rau, University Of Auckland
‘Do You Deserve It?’: Wāhine Māori, Kauae Expectations, and TikTok
Presentation Overview
Indigenous identity construction and relational complexity are increasingly visible in digital spaces. These platforms provide a unique landscape for visibility and creativity, yet they also create friction through identity assertion, acceptance, and denial within Indigenous communities. One such friction seen online are the contemporary perceptions of moko kauae and their expectations for wāhine Māori.
By analysing Tiktok this study identifies a central tension between two dominant perspectives: birthright versus meritocracy. These debates highlight how colonisation continues to influence the contentious nature of identity construction and collective belonging. This research positions the resurgence of moko kauae as a "signal of resistance, pride and beauty" and an enduring reminder of Indigenous survival.
This session explores how modern storytelling and digital pūrākau (stories) function as living systems that strengthen community identity across generations. It offers a critical new generation lens on how cultural practices serve as foundational infrastructure for wellbeing and self-determination in a modern, digital world.
By analysing Tiktok this study identifies a central tension between two dominant perspectives: birthright versus meritocracy. These debates highlight how colonisation continues to influence the contentious nature of identity construction and collective belonging. This research positions the resurgence of moko kauae as a "signal of resistance, pride and beauty" and an enduring reminder of Indigenous survival.
This session explores how modern storytelling and digital pūrākau (stories) function as living systems that strengthen community identity across generations. It offers a critical new generation lens on how cultural practices serve as foundational infrastructure for wellbeing and self-determination in a modern, digital world.
Biography
Mia‑Mae Taitimu‑Stevens (Te Rarawa, Sāmoa, Tokelau) is a champion for Māori, Pacific, and Indigenous success in tertiary education. With over a decade at Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland, she brings heart and strategy to shifting western‑dominant spaces. As a proud wāhine of colour, she leads through connection and advocacy, serving as the Māori and Pacific Academic Engagement Adviser and chairing the Women of Colour Staff Network. Her academic work explores Indigenous identity, with a focus on moko kauae reclamation and the role of social media in that journey.
Miss Mia-Mae Taitimu-Stevens
Academic Engagement Adviser, Māori
Waipapa Taumata Rau | University Of Auckland
‘Do You Deserve It?’: Wāhine Māori, Kauae Expectations, and TikTok
Presentation Overview
Indigenous identity construction and relational complexity are increasingly visible in digital spaces. These platforms provide a unique landscape for visibility and creativity, yet they also create friction through identity assertion, acceptance, and denial within Indigenous communities. One such friction seen online are the contemporary perceptions of moko kauae and their expectations for wāhine Māori.
By analysing Tiktok this study identifies a central tension between two dominant perspectives: birthright versus meritocracy. These debates highlight how colonisation continues to influence the contentious nature of identity construction and collective belonging. This research positions the resurgence of moko kauae as a "signal of resistance, pride and beauty" and an enduring reminder of Indigenous survival.
This session explores how modern storytelling and digital pūrākau (stories) function as living systems that strengthen community identity across generations. It offers a critical new generation lens on how cultural practices serve as foundational infrastructure for wellbeing and self-determination in a modern, digital world.
By analysing Tiktok this study identifies a central tension between two dominant perspectives: birthright versus meritocracy. These debates highlight how colonisation continues to influence the contentious nature of identity construction and collective belonging. This research positions the resurgence of moko kauae as a "signal of resistance, pride and beauty" and an enduring reminder of Indigenous survival.
This session explores how modern storytelling and digital pūrākau (stories) function as living systems that strengthen community identity across generations. It offers a critical new generation lens on how cultural practices serve as foundational infrastructure for wellbeing and self-determination in a modern, digital world.
Biography
Mia-Mae Taitimu-Stevens (Te Rarawa, Sāmoa, Tokelau) completed a Master of Indigenous Studies in 2024, where her research, “If you’re Māori then it’s your birth right” – Kauae Expectations on TikTok, explored to what extent historical contexts and digital spaces impact perceptions of kauae expectations for wahine Māori today. She brings over ten years of experience working in tertiary education with a focus on Māori and Pacific spaces, engagement, and retention at the Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland.
