For Certificate and Diploma in Te Ara Reo Maori graduate Mereana Edwin, learning the language was firstly a way to ensure her son would be brought up with Te Reo.  Little did she know, seven years on she would be a fulltime tutor!

She originally undertook the certificate programme in 2005 and began working at Te Wananga O Aotearoa as a teacher aide. It was then that she decided she would like to become a tutor – a decision that saw her undertake the Diploma programme in 2012. “I’d heard a lot of good things about it through word of mouth. I decided to try it out myself.”

This move saw her begin part time tutoring last year in the Certificate in Te Ara Reo Maori (Level 2) with a full time role being offered this year. As both a graduate and tutor for the courses, Mereana knows first-hand the quality of the programmes. “It is what I expected – it's choice. The whole course has an enjoyable, fun, relaxed environment. When I did Maori at school it was like "here is the subject, then do the assessment". With this course it’s fun and relaxed and the tutors are just awesome.”

Future plans for Mereana revolve around building up her knowledge of Te Reo. “At this stage – I’ll stay here and work as a tutor. I want to one day develop Reo a bit more - I can study a degree in Te Ara Reo Maori.”