A teacher’s path to understanding tikanga

Originally from South Africa, Franda Zondagh has called Aotearoa home since 2003, but it was through studying He Papa Tikanga with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that she began to feel a deeper connection to the place she lives and people she serves in her mahi.

As a secondary school teacher, Franda is surrounded by te reo Māori and tikanga every day, inspiring her to seek a deeper understanding and appreciation.

“I didn’t want to use words and practices without knowing what they meant. I wanted to do it properly and to do it justice,” she says.

Since completing the programme in 2019, Franda continues to apply her learning in everyday life.

When teaching, she can lead karakia with confidence and comfortably incorporate tikanga principles into the classroom. 

At home, that learning extends to her own tamariki, creating opportunities to connect over what they’re learning at school and to grow their knowledge together as a whānau.

“When I talk with my students about tikanga, I can come from a place of understanding. I don’t know everything, but I have the foundations. I’m more culturally responsive to my students, but also in the daily life of my own children.”

Alongside the confidence and capability she gained, Franda says the programme stood out for how accessible it was to fit into everyday life, as well as the quality resources she continues to use in her teaching.

“The resources alone are incredible and I still use them all the time. As a teacher and parent, life is busy, but this didn’t feel like something extra that was hard to manage. It was easy to fit in, and that made a huge difference.”

Franda encourages others to take up the opportunity to study tikanga, highlighting the value it brings both professionally and personally.

“If you don’t take up these programme opportunities and immerse yourself, you really are missing out on valuable learning, connections, and incredible people you get to meet along the way.”

Learn more about our tikanga programmes.