This week Te Wānanga o Aotearoa will host organisations from across the tertiary sector as they come together for the second annual Tūwhitia Symposium, where they will discuss and explore ways that work towards the continued drive of positive outcomes for underserved learners in Aotearoa.

With the support of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Oranga Tamariki is making a continuous and conscious effort to strengthen the knowledge and respect for Māori culture amongst their kaimahi, as well as a commitment to better fulfil their Tiriti o Waitangi obligations.

Mahuru Māori is a challenge open to everyone no matter their current level of reo Māori.

Although rongoā has always been part of Te Aroha Ngatai’s life, she once believed that she needed a qualification from a western institute to practice rongoā.

Not many people would think of taking up tertiary education in their 80’s, but that’s not the case for Rangi Hinga. The much-loved kaumātua is now in his fourth year of study at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Rosemarie Eketone-Williamson has had her fair share of challenges in life, from relationship breakdowns, exposure to family harm and violence, depression, to a battle with drug addiction and giving up care of her two eldest children.

Palmerston North local, Nicole Tipene, was working towards her nursing degree before making the switch to study a Bachelor of Bicultural Social Work at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

When Mereana Gell returned to Aotearoa after many years overseas, she felt out of touch with te ao Māori.

Learning and practicing weaponry skills is vastly different to manipulating uku (clay) into cups and bowls, but both require confidence and discipline, and a respect for tradition.

With all her tamariki (children) having grown up and made the move across the ditch, it’s left just Rena Mclean living here in Aotearoa.

At Te Wānanga o Aotearoa we’re lucky to have a talented bunch of kaimahi who dedicate themselves to their mahi, each and every day.

Mokopuna were the motivator for education consultant Lara Meyer to begin her journey towards revitalising te reo Māori in her whānau.

Two years ago, if you told Kaya Grace that she would be a graduate of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, she might not have believed you.

Ever since she was a young girl, Alicia Ward had a deep desire to connect with her whakapapa (genealogy) and immerse herself in te ao Māori (the Māori world).

Studying at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has given Hastings dad, Tipuna Edward Smith, a new lease on life after many years of battling with his mental health.

Rheeco admits he would be up to ‘nothing good’ if he wasn’t where he is now. Currently he’s deep in the Kaingaroa forest, using a chainsaw to cut down trees with a thinning crew.

Christchurch local, Sai Vaega has always aspired to make a positive impact in his community and the well-being of those around him.

Small business owner, Kawhena Rangihaeata Puha, overcame her struggles with dyslexia to complete the Level 4 Certificate in Small Business last year at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 19, Arron Learmond began a journey of learning, researching and experimenting with herbal medicine and rongoā Māori.

Weku Kereopa may have been the only tāne (male) in his raranga (weaving) class but that didn’t deter him from completing the Diploma in Māori and Indigenous Art.

After completing the Certificate in Tākaro, Sport and Exercise at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Ellerose Vanderaa secured a job as assistant manager at Jetts Fitness in Whakatāne.

Loren Riddall began her raranga (weaving) journey in 2019 and this year she will graduate from Maunga Kura Toi, Bachelor of Māori Art, Raranga.

Liz's commitment to learning te reo Maori has led to positive language outcomes for her community. She is now a Maori language teacher, revitalizing the language at a mainstream school and inspiring others to reconnect with their heritage.

Completing the Money Management programme at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2018 was the kickstart Sam and Courtney Manu needed to take control of their financial future.

Mum of two, Kimberley Cleland is taking what she has learnt from her reo Māori studies through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and passing it on to her young tamariki (children).

Asami’s children and the desire to provide more income to support her family drove her toward a career change. Now an award-winning bookkeeper, Asami runs her own business and credits much of her success to her studies through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Tauira (students) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa have embraced the opportunity to focus on personal and professional growth during the uncertain times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through learning tikanga at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Walter Herewini hopes to give back to his marae and keep te ao Māori (the Māori worldview) alive and thriving.

As an older student, learning reo Māori was slightly daunting for Ōpōtiki College teacher, Deborah Mckillop. But after learning she would be taught by one of her former student’s, things became more relaxed.

Four years ago, Steven Allan’s life took a significant pivot. He injured his back and unable to work as a concrete pumper, enrolled in a business course at Te Wananga o Aotearoa with a friend.

After pushing past his doubts and giving the raranga programme a good go, Kohatu not only completed the programme but it helped strengthen the mobility and use of his fingers.

The vision of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is, whānau transformation through education, and that has been the case for one Hamilton family.

Tā moko artist and mum of two, Mikayla (Meke) Nikora was brought up speaking reo Māori but slowly lost the language after leaving kura kaupapa Māori and moving to Pākehā schooling.

Gisborne sisters, Mererangi and Hoana Kaa believe that education is a key pathway to keeping Māoritanga (culture) thriving in all parts of Aotearoa and empowers Māori to step into leadership.

The first reading of the Education and Training Bill (No.3) in the House of Representatives today signals an historic shift in the relationship between the Crown and the Wānanga sector, namely Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

For husband and wife Daniel and Charmaine Ngawharau, studying with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and using the knowledge learned to start a business has been the best decision they’ve ever made.

A lightbulb moment about identifying as a “New Zealander” led to grandmother and radio station manager Anne Dawson enrolling in Te Reo Māori studies at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2021.

Jennifer Dickerson, a self-proclaimed "Third Culture Kid" due to her unique upbringing around the world, has discovered who she is through art.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Kairuruku and Pouwhenua Whakairo (master carver), Professor Kereti G. Rautangata, (nō Ngāti Mahanga, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura) and his team of carvers have left their mark on a significant piece of the Waikato landscape.

Marewa Severne embodies the very essence of what it means to be wāhine Māori. She brings this integrity and strength to her teaching, with a ready smile, positivity, and a willingness to elevate mātauranga Māori in her life and her work.

A desire to share knowledge on marae up the coast resulted in the first exhibition at Rāhui Marae for Talei Teariki’s Level 4 and 5 Raranga tauira recently. Titled ‘Waiapu’, the exhibition featured weavers from Rangitukia, Ruatōrea, Waipiro, Tikitiki, Te Araroa, Hicks Bay and Te Karaka.

The seed of Kahu Collective was planted back in 2013, when Lisa Harding, Cathy Payne and Corabelle Summerton crossed paths with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa’s stall at the Womens Expo, showcasing our Toi programmes.

Papamoa local, Maggie Hautonga Currie has spent much of her adult life living in Perth but after 37 years she was missing her home, her people, her culture and her reo.

Pirini Edwards was a state ward going through boys’ homes and foster homes throughout his childhood. But it was these childhood experiences and life lessons that led him to his current mahi, teaching the Certificate in Bicultural Social Services at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Teaching and sharing knowledge is a natural and integral part of being Māori for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa kaiako (teacher), Rauangi Ohia.

Karen Nel ventured onto the Toi Maruata course in Porirua to explore indigenous arts in this part of the world and found out more about herself in the process.

Wendy-Lee McKee-Warner’s love for art started at high school, where she spent all her time hanging out in the art room.

Innovative and motivating are just some of many words that describe the well-known toi guests who have been inspiring our tauira this semester.

When Raranga kaiako Laurette Madden-Morehu recieved a kete as a seven-year old at a whānau reunion, it ignited a lifelong curiosity of mahi raranga.