A journey shaped by whānau and a love of tamariki
Members of Tayla-Marie Takawe’s (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto) whānau were among the first tauira to graduate from He Korowai Ākonga – Bachelor of Education (Primary) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Years later, she followed in their footsteps, continuing a whānau legacy in education. Tayla-Marie studied at the Māngere campus in Tāmaki Makaurau and says her passion for supporting and guiding tamariki is what inspired her to pursue a career in education.
“The whakataukī of the late Hori Pōmana, ‘Mā wai te painga? Mā te iho tamariki’, meaning ‘Who should this benefit? It is the kids’, reflects the heart of why studying education was important to me.”
For Tayla-Marie, completing a Bachelor of Education was about more than gaining a tohu, it was about creating a better future for her and her son.
As a busy mum, the flexibility of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa programmes played a key role in helping her achieve that goal.
"Being able to work my study around my son’s schooling gave me the freedom to manage both my responsibilities as a mum and achieve my goals."
Tayla-Marie values the relationships she built with her kaiako throughout her studies and credits them with helping make her learning experience so enjoyable.
“I appreciate the relationships I built with my kaiako and the way they created a learning environment where I felt comfortable to be myself. They were supportive, understanding, and approachable.”
Now a kaiako in her own classroom, Tayla-Marie says her studies equipped her with the confidence to support and inspire tamariki.
“The practicum opportunities were especially valuable, as they allowed me to gain real experience in different teaching environments and build the relationships and confidence I needed to step into the teaching profession.”
Having experienced the challenges and rewards of study firsthand, Tayla-Marie encourages others to back themselves and pursue their teaching aspirations.
"If becoming a kaiako is something you’ve been thinking about, believe in yourself and take the leap. It might not always be easy, but it is worth it and one day you’ll be glad you did."
Find out more about He Korowai Ākonga – Bachelor of Education (Primary) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
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