Reconnecting to te ao Māori through raranga
Haylee Roussel (Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne, Ngāti Maniapoto) was searching for a way to reconnect with te ao Māori when she enrolled in Toi Maruata, Ngā Mahi ā te Whare Pora, at the Waiwhero campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
“At that time in my life, I was searching for something to reconnect me to te ao Māori, and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa offerings spoke to me.”
Learning the foundations of raranga not only helped Haylee reconnect with te ao Māori but also gave her an opportunity to learn more about herself.
“Studying with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, I gained more than creative skills, but a deeper understanding of the spiritual and physical elements of raranga. Raranga is a path to healing and reclamation.”
Passionate about the preservation of taonga Māori, Haylee has continued her journey with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and is now studying Te Tohu Tiaki Taonga at the Māngere campus.
With her sights set on a career in the arts, Haylee has a clear goal: “My aspiration is to become an emerging Māori artist.”
Haylee says her kaiako have played an important role in shaping her raranga practice, sharing their wealth of knowledge and helping her fine tune her skills.
As she continues to grow as an artist, Haylee hopes her journey will inspire her tamariki and whānau, as well as anyone considering pursuing their passions through education.
“Go for it, be that person that creates change for you and your whānau.”
Discover where your own journey could take you. Learn more about Ngā Mahi ā te Whare Pora.
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