Skip Content
Annaleah Hoera and Gazelle Rangitakatu - Graduates: Bachelor of education

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

Mother and daughter, Gazelle Rangitakatu and Annaleah Hoera completed He Korowai Ākonga, Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) along with two other wāhine (women) in their whānau.

“I love the fact that I had my oldest daughter graduate first and now me and Annaleah. And this year we have my other daughter doing her first year of teaching at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. I love it, it’s just beautiful,” says Gazelle.

It was Annaleah who encouraged her mum to take the next step and study primary teaching after seeing her work as a teacher aide for over 20 years.

But at 53-years-old, Gazelle had the opinion that she was too old to study and had doubts about her ability to achieve.

“My biggest fear would have been that I was too old and I didn’t know what to do. But Te Wānanga o Aotearoa embraced my knowledge whether I thought it was little or not. Whatever you have, big or small, it’s valuable, it’s a taonga (treasure). You bring yours; I’ll bring mine and together we will flourish,” says Gazelle.

Prior to studying, Annaleah spent nine years as a manager at McDonald’s, which meant her ability to take weekends and public holidays off was limited.

But since completing their bachelors, both wāhine were offered and accepted teaching roles in reo rua (bilingual) classrooms at Hamilton’s Bankwood School.

“Part of my decision to change careers was the flexibility that teachers have. For nine years I never had weekends off. Now I have more freedom and I’m appreciative of this career,” says Annaleah.

The learning environment at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was one where Gazelle and Annaleah felt at home and safe to explore their learning and it was this learning that they have now taken into their own classrooms.

“In the first term I make sure my students feel like they belong and that it’s a safe space to learn. That is one thing I learnt from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that I will continue,” says Annaleah.

Find out more about our Education programmes

 Back to news & events

Published On: 17 April 2023

Article By: Cassia Ngaruhe



Other Articles

  • 28 September 2023

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa kaiako attending 2023 Toi Kiri Festival in Tauranga

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa will attend the prestigious Toi Kiri World Indigenous Arts Festival in Mt Maunganui for the first time this year. Eight kaiako (teachers) will participate in the festival, which gathers indigenous artists from around the world to showcase their art.

  • 25 September 2023

    Tūwhitia Symposium drives student success for underserved learners

    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.

  • 25 September 2023

    Oranga Tamariki continues to improve Māori cultural capability with support from Te Wānanga o 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.

  • 06 September 2023

    Mahuru Māori challenge aligned with maramataka

    The Mahuru Māori challenge is just around the corner, but what does this mean and who can get involved?