麻豆传媒高清

Gaynor Hakaria (Ng膩ti Porou, Ng膩i Tahu) and Grant Hakaria (Ng膩ti Kur墨) dedicated themselves to shaping young minds in primary education classrooms for two decades, while also growing their wh膩nau. The duo then decided to return to university to deepen their knowledge, and to better serve their communities.

With the future of their students in mind, they made arrangements for the transition to full time study. 鈥淚f it was to the detriment of my school, I wouldn鈥檛 go back to study,鈥� says Grant.

鈥淚 wanted to explore some new research and seek further qualifications so I could be a role model for not only my wh膩nau but for all tamariki (children) to show that learning never stops,鈥� says Gaynor.听

Gaynor, who graduated from the Teachers College (now Faculty of Education) in 1996 is graduating with a Masters of H艒aka Pounamu | M膩ori Bilingual and Immersion Teaching and Learning this autumn. Grant will join her on stage at this graduation, receiving his Master of Education.

鈥淕rant deferred his graduation last year so we could graduate together,鈥� says Gaynor. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big deal as my extended wh膩nau are starting to further their studies in tertiary education.鈥�

鈥淚 wanted our kids to see us walking across the stage,鈥� says Grant, hoping that their children and their students might be inspired by seeing them graduate 鈥� and encouraged to pursue a degree themselves.

Gaynor says one of her papers, , has helped her understand the issues Pasifika communities are facing. Having a large Pasifika community at Te Waka Unua School where the couple is teaching, they are more enabled to support others to lead positive change together with colleagues.

As experienced kaiako (teachers) in bilingual M膩ori education, they are committed to supporting the kaiako, tamariki and community of their Samoan bilingual programme, Tava鈥檈, to thrive.

Their teaching background gives them both valuable skills. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where we see our purpose,鈥� says Gaynor. 鈥淲e can help our wh膩nau anywhere along their journey of identity, culture and language.鈥�

That was not always the case, and Gaynor says it wasn鈥檛 until they had a mind shift and committed to the Ng膩i Tahu strategy called Kotahi Mano K膩ika, which supports and promotes the growth of Ng膩i Tahu identity and te reo i te k膩inga (language in the home), that they started speaking more te reo M膩ori at home.

鈥淲e see how beneficial it is and how it has benefited our kids, wh膩nau, friends and their kids,鈥� says Grant. 鈥淏ecause we experienced it ourselves, it鈥檚 our passion to nurture this within others and we hope they will also have an epiphany and speak their language more.鈥�

Their passion filters through their own family, with one of their children Suayd Hakaria being part of the UC M膩ori team that is supporting 膩konga (students) M膩ori. 鈥淚 even went to his office sometimes to ask for help, so to go to uni and have my son advise me was pretty cool,鈥� Grant says.

鈥淭here was lots of support on offer, it鈥檚 just about reaching out,鈥� adds Gaynor.听

Read more of our graduate success stories听here.