Falling pregnant as a teenager was a blessing in disguise, says one Rotorua mother.
At 19 years old Ngaire Hohepa is a mother to three children under 5 and is starting her diploma in Early Childhood Education this year.
Ms Hohepa was 14 when she gave birth to her eldest son Iharaira Hohepa, 4, and now says he "saved her life".
"I always looked quite old for my age so I was hanging out with older people and skipping school, smoking, doing drugs, drinking. I was in and out of court and was just throwing my life away.
"When I found out I was pregnant I realised I was going to be responsible for another life and I stopped it all immediately.