More than 50 Maori undergraduates at Auckland University have gone to Te Tairawhiti to encourage school students to take on tertiary studies.
The university's Maori students association, Nga Tauira Maori, will visit 15 schools and kura kaupapa this week to perform skits and talk to students about university.
The student-run initiative has been going for more than ten years.
Co-president of the group Hikurangi Jackson says it hopes to inspire young Maori in Te Whanau a Apanui and Ngati Porou to pursue higher studies.
He says the group is made up of Maori from all different backgrounds, and it wants to show school students that if they can go to university, then so too can the students.
Mr Jackson says Maori make up 2% of the population at Auckland University, and that needs to change.
