Samantha Paetai - Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Huarahi Māori

Ngāti Maru / Ngāti Maniapoto

"Being able to study the Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Huarahi Māori specialisation in Te Tai Tokerau felt like a dream come true as it allowed me to work towards becoming a Te Reo Māori teacher.

"The best part of the programme has been meeting my new whānau of classmates and tutors. The Te Tai Tokerau campus is a small campus which has made us a very tight-knit whānau.

"Studying whilst you are a mother and a grandmother has been a main drive. I study for my whānau, the study is demanding but you learn quickly how to balance out your time to make your study life and your family life work.

"Whilst studying myself and my fellow Student/friend Te Aroha Paraha started our own accessory brand. The Student allowance is very minimal and that can add pressure to study life. We saw that there was a demand for the recylced tyre feather earrings (whakakai), however the price was too high. I decided to get my craft on and started to make whakakai that were affordable and accessible for everyone whilst emphasizing our Māori culture.
 

"I was weaving flowers, making different sorts of crafts, and making kawakawa balm for whānau and friends, and I approached my friend Te Aroha Paraha knowing she was wealthy in tikanga Māori. I convinced Te Aroha that together with our powers combined we could make Ngā Toi Māori affordable to everyone. It was a success, we were able to purchase our course books, pay for te reo Māori classes and attend the Six60 concert in Waitangi. We would have never been able to do all of that with student allowance, so we worked long hours producing recycled handmade Māori crafts and headed to the markets.

"Anyone who is heading into study is to be commended, to be a mother and a grandmother and study is a whole life shift. My advice is to make sure you have support from your whānau to help you with the tamariki, because it is not easy studying and juggling a whānau. Time management becomes an important part of your life especially for your wellbeing. And most importantly when you are thinking about giving up, or that studying is not what you thought it would be, remember, there is most definitely a light at the end of the tunnel.

In my teaching career I hope to inspire children with a focus on empowering our Māori students to dream big, aim high, and together we will do our best to make those dreams become a reality.

"I hope to go home with my knowledge and mātauranga Māori and share with my whanau and our community. The knowledge and self-efficacy gained through your training will make you an even more infallible person. It is totally worth all of the pain, and nothing good ever comes easy."