Kōrerorero with Mahdis & Juanita

Join Mahdis and Juanita for a one off kōrero where they'll talk about everything from creativity and storytelling to identity and intersectionality. What kind of world do you envision for yourself and those around you? Is it something you've thought about? Or maybe you want to hear more about decolonising the spaces around you? Or the potential for te tiriti based relationships. Then this is the kōrero for you!

Mahdis Azarmandi is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Studies and Leadership at the University of Canterbury, where she also serves as the co-coordinator for the Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership program. After earning her PhD from the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Otago, she held a position as Assistant Professor at DePauw University. Additionally, she has taught in Germany and Denmark. Her research focuses on addressing the notable absence of race in peace and conflict studies, alongside examining the interplay between colonization, imperialism, and white supremacy in the context of peace and violence.

Her current research extends beyond peace and conflict studies, encompassing abolition and the envisioning of a war-free world, with a focus on confronting the structural violence of capitalism, racism, and militarization to dismantle oppressive systems. In addition to her work on peace and conflict studies, she also works on the politics of memorialization in Spain and Aotearoa New Zealand. Her scholarly works delve into resistance to monuments and uncover the colonial inscriptions embedded within urban landscapes. She is one of the editors of the book Decolonize the City! Zur Kolonialität der Stadt – Gespräche | Aushandlungen | Perspektiven.

Te Whare Tapere presents a LIVE performance event featuring some of our finest Māori and BIPOC artists in Ōtautahi.