Teaching dream becomes reality for resilient South Auckland mum

Tongan-born Tangi Katoa grew up watching her mum, Lineni Paea, teach, instilling in her a love of education and a passion for teaching.

In 1996, Lineni received a scholarship to further her studies at the University of Auckland, which led to Tangi coming to New Zealand and witnessing her mum teach in a new environment.

Throughout her life, Tangi held onto her dream of becoming a teacher despite setbacks and challenges that arose during her He Korowai Akonga, Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) degree.

Her journey toward becoming a teacher began at the Māngere campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in 2007. After falling pregnant in 2008 and becoming a single mother, Tangi put her studies on hold to raise her young whānau with the support of her grandmother.

“When my grandma passed away in 2018, I felt like I failed her. I couldn't give back to her after all the sacrifices she made, helping me raise my 3 kids. So, in 2019, towards the end of the year, I re-enrolled,” she says.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Tangi took a break in her second year but returned in 2022, completing her degree in 2023.

"Getting my degree was a long journey, but I did it. The cherry on top is that I’m now working with my mum at the same school, and she's my biggest support. My kids are able to see that anything is possible.”

The support that Tangi received from her kaiako after returning to study helped make all the difference. She spoke highly of the kaimahi at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and explained how they weren’t just focused on how her learning was tracking; they took the time to learn about her story and her whānau background.

As a single mum of 3, Tangi valued the whānau-friendly environment at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and is grateful her current career path allows her to continue having a good work-life balance.

“In this career, you still get time to spend with your family, and family is very important. That's the beauty of this job; I get to be a mum, and I get to be a teacher.”

Tangi’s advice to others considering a career in teaching is clear, “It's never too late to go back and study. If I can do it twice, then anything is possible. Find your why and just keep going.”

“If you want to study at a place where your values are accepted and it's family orientated, Te Wānanga Aotearoa is the place to be.”

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