Learning about the awa: My reflective journey of admission into a doctoral programme at Auckland University of Technology Getting onto the waka: Transitioning from master’s programme to ‘thinking I can do a doctoral degree’

Making the shift to quickly adapt to doctoral research study begins with establishing your keys to success at the master’s level. From personal experience, completing a 90-point research component of a master’s, had definitely set me up well for embarking on a doctoral study (Abraham, 2021). Being well skilled in time management, being committed to your learning, and having a go-getter attitude are important mental shifts required to help you succeed. Behind this aptitude and determination to do well is your whānau, hapū (subtribe) and iwi (tribe) support. Knowing that your collective is fully supportive of you, not only mentally uplifts you, but it also helps build the mental shift needed to undertake the transition to doctoral student who is ready to undertake the PGR2 journey. Deciding to pursue a doctoral degree in your Abstract Supporting new Māori doctoral students on their academic journey as they begin requires them to adapt quickly and steadily to the university’s structures and systems. Contemplating and thinking about doctoral studies entail a huge mind shift from worker to student, and also has to be taking onboard with your whānau (extended family) and the greater hapori (community). To successfully navigate the awa (river) involves meeting minimum entry requirements of a doctoral programme and then submitting a PGR2 proposal on a topic which you will be acquainted with. This paper aims to explore the awa, a metaphorical analogy of navigating and engaging in higher education as a mature student based on lived experience as a Māori doctoral student when entering into a doctoral programme at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and details keys to success, and preparation needed to successfully complete the PGR2 pathway.

mind and then saying it out aloud to those you care about is one necessary step in building your self-belief in believing you can do a doctoral degree.
From my personal lived experiences as a master's student at Unitec, I was offered an opportunity to apply for a pre-doctoral internship, before submitting by master's for examination. This opportunity was just one of many steps in making the transition from a fulltime Principal to a doctoral candidate at AUT. The pathway into academia also allowed me, as a Māori student, to continue on my personal journey and to strengthen my understanding and cultural capabilities in becoming a Kaupapa Māori researcher. The belief instilled within me from participating in Unitec's Māori postgraduate wānanga series, interacting with kaupapa Māori researchers and having Unitec Māori learner support give willingly their time and energy (this is considered to be a koha [gift]), had made a huge difference to my determination to embark on a doctoral journey at AUT.

The pre-doctoral internship offered through Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM): New
Zealand's Māori Centre of Research Excellence (CORE), provided an opportunity to work with a Senior Māori academic, Dr Teorongonui Josie Keelan and be mentored within a kaupapa Māori (Māori way of being) environment, which is a rare space to be within in higher education.
Being mentored and nurtured by Dr Teorongonui Josie Keelan helped me grow my appreciation for undertaking Kaupapa Māori research, grow as a person learning about my existence and journey within te ao Māori and was the impetus to take that next step on embarking on a doctoral journey. The sharing of kai (pineapple pie), spending quality time through writing workshops, and wānanga with Dr Teorongonui truly was a very special time and memory that I will hold forever. These moments helped me to become more grounded and ready to transition from master's student to doctoral student. As a master's Māori student, having dedicated Māori and Pacific academics at Unitec Institute of Technology take the time to help you with learning tips such as google scholar for referencing, using PERL writing technique, and just providing a space to be Māori, made a huge difference to my student experience and journey. was not what I wanted to do in my then former role as a principal. I had come to a stage where I perceived the New Zealand education system to be a let-down (Abraham, 2021;Abraham-O'Leary, 2015), and I saw a new door opening, waiting for me to make that mental, physical and spiritual shift of walking through the door. So, in the end, I ran through that door and never looked backed or doubted myself for doing so. The message is, "have faith, believe in yourself, and trust you are doing the right thing". Your tupuna (ancestors, guardians) are by your side, and are guiding you on your journey.
As a potential doctoral student, if you elect to take the PhD pathway, you will normally have completed a research project in a discipline where you have achieved a master's degree with honours or bachelor's degree with honours (Auckland University of Technology, n. d. -a). If you don't meet the criteria, it is also worth talking through this with your potential supervisor(s), who may have another strategy to support you in undertaking a doctoral programme by further work at the master's level.

PhD and the impact on whanau
There is no easy way in financing a PhD. An important step is working out a plan that is localised to the needs of yourself and whānau. Any Māori student has to really think about how you are going to finance your PhD. In my case, I had to consider with my whānau, how we were going to manage the four years without me fulltime working as a Principal. In the end I left the role and returned to working fulltime as a teacher in a fixed term role, but it just took up too much of my head space and it wasn't right for me. I was over teaching, and I dearly missed the academic research work (Abraham, 2021). So, after further wānanga (to talk and discuss) with whānau, another plan was hatched which saw me return to relief teaching a couple of days a week and doing a bit of tutoring at AUT. While at the same time I explored scholarship and education grant opportunities to subsidise the cost of doing the PhD. As a result, I was very fortunate to be awarded an AUT VC Doctoral Scholarship for three years, which meant I could afford to do two days of teaching a week. Additionally, I was able to take time to explore what Māori education grants and scholarships were available to help alleviate the expenses and support my time away from work and to complete my studies. My whānau were very important to me so keeping them onside and with their support, we managed to get through this four-year doctoral journey.
Other choices I had to make as part of doing the PhD was not overcommitting myself for four years. It is normal for Māori to be committed to their whānau and hapori (community). Serving your people is a Māori way of being and is something that we all do. But making my PhD a priority at the onset with a commitment to finish is about being tika (be true and correct) and pono (genuine) with whānau. So, for any potential Māori student thinking about doing a PhD, be tika and pono with whānau, take the time to wānanga about what the cost is in doing a

PhD. You have to be a little bit precious with time, by establishing good habits of study and
doing what is asked of you by your supervisors. Another point I make is you have to learn to listen really well to your supervisors. If your supervisors ask you to do something on your writing and research, be diligent and get the mahi (work) done. Therefore, time management is a critical key to your success, alongside having buy-in from whanau who will need to have shared commitment to support you in your endeavours to pursue a dream of successfully completing a PhD. to 2000 words (Abraham, 2021;AUT, n.d.-b). This process is the beginning of embarking on a doctoral journey at AUT, and an important step in moving towards doctoral candidature also known as the PGR9 (Abraham, 2022). During the exploration phase of checking out university doctoral programmes, you are also looking for potential supervisors.
In my situation, I had to prepare a 1000-word research proposal. For the first six months, I read selected articles to stimulate my thinking supplied by my first two supervisors and to inform my voice to come through in the PGR2. A great supervisor will also spend time with you, building a relationship and setting time aside to learn about your reasons for considering embarking on a doctoral journey. After some serious soul searching, kōrero (talk) and wānanga (in-depth talking), mentioned earlier, I made the decision to move across from the School of Education in the Faculty of Culture and Society to Te Ara Poutama. In consultation, I worked through this process with Professor Tania Ka'ai and, with the support of Dr Howard Young, we had a hui to acknowledge a passing over. I really appreciated this cultural process and through wānanga I contacted Dr Josie Keelan at Unitec. In the space of one month, I successfully passed the PGR2. What was critical in all this journey was the strength of Māori approaches and collaboration between Western academics alongside Māori academics to support me as a Māori student to navigate the bends of the awa and become successful in higher education (Abraham, 2022;Abraham, 2021).
Padding the awa: Recognising your personal journey alongside the PhD journey I was fortunate to have great Māori mentors who were senior Māori academics to take me under their wide wingspans as supervisors during my master's journey (Abraham-O'leary, 2015). My two supervisors, Alison Smith and Yo Heta-Lensen were also undertaking a dual  In summary, what I learnt from the PGR2 experience is to keep the faith and never give up on your dream, no matter what the obstacles. Whānau are your number one supporters and will get you through those difficult challenges, alongside your amazing supervisors. Sometimes you are with supervisors for a certain period of time and in my situation, it was meant to be the way it was. I needed to go through the four supervisors as part of my doctoral journey of navigating the awa. What my voice does reflect is the importance of providing Māori spaces and having Māori supervisors as role models and mentors to guide Māori students on their Rangahau Aranga: AUT Graduate Review | 7 entry into a doctoral programme because sometimes we are on a dual journey too within te ao Māori (Māori world).