Keil Caskey – former tauira, now kaiako

Many of our toi kaiako are former tauira. After graduating, they realise that they want to share their knowledge and help others discover their own talents.

Keil Caskey, a toi kaiako based in Whangārei, is first up in our tauira-to-kaiako series.

You were a tauira with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa before you became a kaiako. Why did you choose to study with us?

My rongoā kaiako opened the door for me to complete He Waka Hiringa - Masters in Applied Indigenous Knowledge, by recognising what I carried was very special – a passion for creating taonga pūoro from clay. I found the process deeply therapeutic, and I remember when I played my instruments for my rongoā class, my kaiako said they hadn’t heard those sounds since they were children. They encouraged me to deepen my understanding and so I enrolled. The memories and growth I shared with my peers remain very precious.

What led you to become a kaiako? Was there a pivotal moment that made you want to shift from learning to teaching?

I was reflecting on my experiences at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa with a mentor of mine, when I had an epiphany: I needed to give back to the organisation that had given me so much. Around that same time, I saw an ad for a role in School Services. I applied, and to my surprise, I was snapped up quickly! I began delivering arts programmes to rangatahi in high schools, a role that was very fulfilling. After some time, an opportunity arose to teach Toi Māori – specifically taonga pūoro uku – and I stepped into the role of kaiako.

How has your experience as a former tauira influenced the way you teach your tauira today?

I found that having a strong relationship with my kaiako directly influenced the effort I put into my classwork and my passion for learning. The reciprocity of knowledge and effort between kaiako and tauira created the foundation and the nest for growth within the ako space.

Starting my journey teaching rangatahi in high schools and now moving into teaching adult tauira has shown me that knowledge only becomes powerful when it is personally precious to the learner. Personal relevance is everything. As kaiako, we can inspire by living in alignment with the values and principles we teach. By walking our talk, we show tauira the value of this knowledge, and sometimes, that example becomes the candle in the dark they need.

Do you have a favourite moment or story that shows the impact of our toi programmes on your tauira?

One of the most profound impacts I’ve seen is through the element of whakapapa within our toi programmes. When tauira are required to integrate their whakapapa into their mahi, it often means they must confront, rediscover, or piece together their whakapapa. For some, this is a challenging, lifelong journey. But it is also an immense gift. Watching tauira unravel this knowledge for themselves and weave it into their creative practice is incredible, and I am grateful that we provide a space for that transformation.

What advice would you give to tauira who might be considering following in your footsteps – from being a tauira to being a kaiako?

Follow your heart. Every tauira has something unique to offer their whānau and communities. If you feel a spark – any spark – nurture it.

Leadership is an essential quality for kaiako, but not just for yourself. It is about recognising and encouraging that same quality within each of your tauira.