Thriving as a kaiako after He Korowai Ākonga

When Marlena Martin began her studies in He Korowai Ākonga – Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) in 2023, she never imagined where it would take her and how much she would grow as an individual.

Now, at 38 years old she is a passionate kaiako at Selwyn School, teaching years 1 and 2 in an environment where she is proud to teach and speak to her tauira in reo Māori every day.

“My life has been transformed beyond my imagination. It is a powerful thing when you are given a place and an opportunity to soar in your aspirations and cultural identity. Learning through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, I discovered my calling,” she says.

Marlena completed her degree at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Waiwhero Campus in Rotorua, allowing her to study locally and continue being present for her 3 tamariki, while still following her dreams of becoming a kaiako.

Learning in a Māori environment also gave Marlena the opportunity to grow in her cultural identity and ground herself in te ao Māori and her lineage.

“He Korowai Ākonga was unlike any former study I have ever done. The programme valued me holistically and was taught through a Māori worldview, which grounded me in my identity. Being me and being Māori was celebrated, not shunned.”

Completing 3 years of study while raising 3 tamariki is no easy feat, but with the support of her kaiako, Marlena didn’t just succeed, she excelled, achieving an A+ grade average across her degree.

“My kaiako were the best in the business and experts in their respective fields of teaching. They cared enough to make the learning enjoyable, contextual, and to build a genuine professional relationship with me. They got to know me, my strengths, my passions, my whānau, and helped me to achieve heights I could not have reached alone.”

For Marlena, studying at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has meant she is now in a career that she loves and it has given her a deeper understanding of who she is and her potential.

“Thanks to this tohu, I have more clarity that we were never meant to struggle, fight for little or be subjects of circumstance. We are descendants of chiefs with great mana, and through whakapapa, they are always with us. We are destined to thrive, to create our own limitless narrative, and create currents, not be subject to them.”