鈥淓ngineers have the responsibility to design environmentally low impact solutions for the natural and built environment that benefit te taiao [nature] and in turn generations to come 鈥 and I wanted to be a part of that,鈥 Alyce says.
鈥淒uring my degree I learnt that not only is there an opportunity to understand engineering from an ao M膩ori perspective 鈥 it is integral to for us to design engineering solutions for all of Aotearoa.鈥
During her studies, Alyce was involved with the ENGMe! kaupapa for tauira M膩ori, and Te Akatoki (M膩ori Students鈥 Association) as the Academic Representative for Engineering. She was also part of the UC Student Volunteer Army in various roles, including Vice President, Events Manager and Schools Coordinator, and started the 鈥楳膩ori in Engineering鈥 podcast. In 2021 she received the Ng膩i Tahu Research Study Award in recognition of her performance in engineering and innovative thinking, and contribution to supporting M膩ori in Engineering.
鈥淲hen I came to university I didn鈥檛 know much about my own whakapapa M膩ori, so EngME! and Te Akatoki were integral for me to be where I am today,鈥 Alyce says.
鈥淢y pathway of study meant that I was also able to study papers that focused on te reo M膩ori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Having knowledge that has helped me better understand Aotearoa meant that I felt I could enter the engineering industry a lot more grounded.鈥
Alyce is now employed as a听graduate Water Engineer in the Water Assets team in Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington, with a long-term career aspiration to support iwi M膩ori through engineering.
鈥淚 would like to continue to learn technical engineering skills and te reo M膩ori me on膩 tikanga M膩ori and use the two to understand how the engineering industry can better incorporate ao M膩ori into design, and develop meaningful partnerships with iwi M膩ori. I hope to have a positive impact on te taiao through harnessing m膩tauranga we already have and implementing strategic design in our engineering solutions.
鈥淢y long-term career aspiration is to empower rangatahi to pursue engineering as a career, to believe in themselves and do what they set their minds to. Manaaki whenua, manaaki t膩ngata, haere whakamua 鈥 if we take care of the land and take care of the people, we will take care of the future.鈥
