Mature student to lead class farewell

Rawinia Paterson says studying for a bachelor's degree was challenging as well as rewarding. Photo / Supplied

EIT valedictorian Rawinia Paterson launched into Bachelor of Arts (Maori) studies in her forties because she wanted to interact better with an older generation of fluent te reo speakers.

Of Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Porou descent, Rawinia grew up in Porangahau until moving to Napier as a five-year-old to start her schooling.

Later, she "did the urban drift thing", working for Government departments in Wellington and then in Palmerston North and Hawke's Bay.

Rawinia left her job to start her family. Raising sons Rion and Nazareth, now aged 26 and 19, she never considered tertiary study, feeling she always had her background in office administration to fall back on.

Realising knowledge of whakapapa and te reo would help in whanau dealings, she decided to return to study - a life-changing experience, she says.

"It was challenging, very challenging. But when I started, it was with a passion to do it. It didn't matter how challenging it was, I was going to do it."

The fact that her youngest brother had gained his Bachelor of Arts (Maori) at EIT boosted her confidence - "I thought if he can do it, so can I."

Study wasn't about timetables.

"I could leave the house on Friday and not get home until Sunday. That was part of the culture, learning how to live with one another and how to run a marae."

Rawinia didn't know where a degree might take her. Nor did she realise it could help her earn money.

"The goal was to get my language, to get my tikanga, to be able to hold on in my family, to cope in those environments."

Although she had picked up a few words of te reo as a child, the Maori language was not nurtured or encouraged.

"We lived in a Pakeha world and got on with it."

With the support of her partner and her sons, Rawinia combined study with part-time work over four years. She started as a teacher's aide at EIT's Te Uranga Waka and this year she has her own classes.

"I can give it a lot more energy now I'm not studying. Being a teacher was never a goal, but I feel great about that. I love sharing our language and making a difference in my approach. Rather than instruct, I share."

Keen to continue her own learning journey, Rawinia is progressing to EIT's Post Graduate Diploma in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies.

While the new one-year programme is being offered through Toikoukura on the Tairawhiti campus, she will be studying online, attending block courses as required.

Rawinia was surprised and honoured to be chosen as a valedictorian.

Although the prospect of delivering a speech is "a bit scary" she is well-prepared, having worked on the address she will be delivering on behalf of fellow graduates at the traditional ceremony being staged in Napier's Municipal Theatre later this week.