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Personal tragedy and working at EIT Tairāwhiti proves to be motivation to study further | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

3 mins ago

Hailey Keepa has worked and studied at EIT Tairāwhiti and is now in her first year of a Bachelor of Midwifery, through the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) where her study is a mix of classes based at EIT’s Tairāwhiti Campus and block courses in Hamilton.

Her personal experiences and working at EIT Tairāwhiti’s Hub Café has inspired a local woman to study a career preparation programme at EIT and now midwifery.

Hailey Keepa left Gisborne Girls’ High School in year 11 in 2002 and proceeded to do a number of jobs before starting her own cake business, which she ran for five years out of her registered kitchen from home.

However, circumstances changed when she and her whānau were unable to buy the house they had rented for 15 years. The loss of their home meant the loss of Hailey’s business and weeks later they also experienced the loss of their son Kyrei who was born stillborn. These life altering events that all happened within six weeks of each other, made her assess her life.

A job at the Hub Café on the EIT Tairāwhiti Campus, led her to realise that studying further was a way forward for her.

“Working there I met heaps of students, and especially adult students. It inspired me to realise that I could still study at my age, and that I was determined to do better for not only myself, but for my whānau.”

“I always thought I’d love to be a midwife, but I always put it in the too hard basket, as I thought that it would be terrible to go back to school as an adult student. But working at the Hub Cafe, meeting all those people, I was like, ‘man, I am actually going to do this’.”

Because she had been out of study for so long, 37-year-old Hailey first had to enrol in the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3 and 4).

“I didn’t think I needed to do the level three, but I’m actually so glad that I did it, it helped transition me into level four. These courses just prepare you so much more for further study in degree level. They take you back to the basics, which I needed as I wasn’t at school long enough to even learn those. I actually did way better than I thought I would academically too.”

“My tutors were amazing, and all the staff at EIT are so encouraging. It’s a very close-knit community at EIT.”

Hailey is now in her first year of a Bachelor of Midwifery, through the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec).  And with her first semester completed she was pleased to announce she received straight A’s, and hopes to continue her learning journey at a high level.

Hailey, who is married and the mother to five children, says that her experience with her stillborn son Kyrei is a big part of her midwifery journey.

She says that while she realised that she wanted to be a midwife when her daughter was born 12 years ago, it was the birth of Kyrei that pushed her to make it happen.

“I always thought that it would be an amazing career to have and to be part of that moment in a woman’s life. What held me back was that I did not do too well at high school. School was never for me, I’m much more of a hands-on person.”

“But then after everything with Kyrei, I thought: ‘Gosh, how many women could I support through their healing process if I actually was in this career.”

EIT’s Study and Career Preparation programmes provided the foundation for Hailey to fulfil that ambition.

With three more years to go of her degree after this one, Hailey is keen to learn what is needed to become a midwife and to equally care for and work in partnership with all women, and give back to the Tairāwhiti community.

EIT’s Acting Head of School Education and Social Sciences, Mandy Pentecost, says: “Hailey’s story is a shining example of the way the Study and Career Pathway courses are doing a great job getting people ready to enter higher level study, and we wish Hailey every success as she continues to pursue her dream.”

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EIT pilot study into vaping among students extended beyond Hawke’s Bay | EIT Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

4 seconds ago

Left to Right: Melody Khan (Masters Student), Dr Sue Scott-Chapman (Secondary Supervisor), Associate Professor Anita Jagroop-Dearing (Principal Supervisor/Lead Researcher) and Associate Professor Rachel Forrest (Student Mentor).

An EIT research project addressing the epidemic of youth vaping among intermediate and high school students in Hawke’s Bay has been extended outside of the region following interest from a Bay of Plenty High School.

The extended out-of-region study titled ‘Vaping Landscape’ complements an existing study ‘Scoping solutions to address the epidemic of youth vaping in Aotearoa’ which is currently being conducted by a team led by Associate Professor Anita Jagroop-Dearing from EIT.

Vaping Landscape will focus on Pāpāmoa College and is being conducted by EIT Masters of Health Science student Melody Khan, who has been involved in the original study.

It is funded by a second grant from the Health Research Foundation Hawke’s Bay, which adds to the pool of funding for the project including grants from the Health Research Council and EIT.

Both studies hope to capture the stories, experiences and health awareness of e-cigarette vaping by youth. It will also make for a comparison of regional variations in vaping behaviours.

Anita says it will be the first comprehensive investigation into vaping among intermediate and high school students between two areas in New Zealand.

“We are working with a number of schools across Hawke’s Bay and additional funding has enabled the involvement of out-of-region schools.

“Pāpāmoa College approached us to say that they were experiencing issues to do with vaping in their school and that they would like to be a part of our study. After confirming the feasibility, obtaining the necessary ethics approval, and securing funding for an out-of-region school, we included them to conduct comparative studies.”

The college has more than 1700 students, of whom 28 percent are Māori and six percent are Pasifika.

 “Previous data indicated higher vaping rates among Māori and Pacific students compared to their non-Māori and non-Pacific peers. Therefore, we aim to compare the vaping behaviours in this school with those in Hawke’s Bay.”

Anita hypothesises that there may be regional differences between vaping behaviours in youth with distinctions in narrative of experiences and self-awareness.

Melody previously graduated with a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science at EIT. After being displaced due to Cyclone Gabrielle, she was able to pivot and extend this study for her masters.

“Initially I started with nutrition. My original masters thesis was nutrition and nutritional labelling, but when this opportunity opened up, I jumped on it because it’s something that’s going to need further research and is becoming more prevalent.”

Pāpāmoa College Deputy Principal (Tumuaki Katiriwā) Ben Ormsby says when they heard about the study, they thought why not reach out and see if they could be a part of it.

“Like most schools, we have been seeing an increase in vaping related incidents. Our rationale was that, while we are trying to find ways to educate students, we might as well volunteer to be part of the study.”

Ben says that the feedback from their community has been really positive about them being involved in the trial.

“We would suspect that whilst schools are struggling with youth vaping, the wider community is also seeing the impacts. The feedback to date would suggest the community is glad we are trying to do something about it.”

They are now looking forward to seeing what comes out of the study.

“If the information our students give forward contributes to something positive to tackle youth vaping, whether that be strategies or messaging then we thought it will be well worth it.”

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EIT says farewell to long-standing research director | EIT Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

14 mins ago

EIT is farewelling its Research Director Associate Professor Jonathan Sibley.

EIT has farewelled its long-standing Research Director, Associate Professor Jonathan Sibley, who has been at the forefront of driving research at the institute.

Jonathan, who joined EIT’s School of Business in 2016 and has headed EIT’s Research and Innovation Centre (RIC) since 2018, is retiring from the role to pursue other interests.

Together with former Executive Dean Natalie Waran, he led the push towards increasing grants for researchers at EIT and encouraging them to participate in the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) process.

Jonathan says that a strong research culture was built at EIT under the direction of former Chief Executive Chris Collins.

“Chris, along with the then Executive Deans Susan Jacobs, Natalie and Professors Bob Marshall and Kay Morris Matthews, ensured that we were very research active in the ITP sector.”

“We built an enviable position for regional polytechnics in research and were able to establish a research centre with Te Kura i Awarua, to engage in research as a principle. Great thanks are owed to Professors David Tipene Leach and Annemarie Gillies for their leadership in the development of the Centre and our rangahau Māori capability.”

Jonathan says despite challenging times during COVID-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle, research has continued.

“We built a really strong, nationally recognised research culture with a number of researchers who had an international reputation.”

“As we move back to independence, we have an excellent platform for further developing our research culture.”

“EIT can also be proud that it hosts the largest number of international postgraduate students among New Zealand polytechnics,” says Jonathan, who also teaches and supervises students in the postgraduate business programmes.

EIT’s Executive Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Technology John West paid tribute to Jonathan for his professionalism and research leadership.

“Jonathan has led the evolution of the School of Business’ postgraduate studies. He has also played an important role in fostering research and mentoring our researchers.”

“We thank him for everything that he has contributed and wish him well in the future.”

Jonathan will continue teaching in the School of Business’ postgraduate programme on a part-time basis.

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Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills meets with regional leaders at EIT | EIT Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

8 mins ago

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst (left), Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds and Executive Director Region 2 – Te Pūkenga Kieran Hewitson at the EIT Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale.

Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds met with regional government, business and community leaders at the EIT Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale on Wednesday (3 July).

The purpose of the meeting was to hear what the region needed from EIT and to better understand the challenges the region faced.

Minister Simmonds has had a long association with EIT, having previously worked as Chief Executive of Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) for 23 years.

She says EIT has been a successful polytechnic all the way through, and has always had close connections with the community, and industries.

“EIT has been a real shining light in the polytechnic sector, particularly for regional polytechnics. There has been stable, sensible governance and management for not twenty years but decades.”

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said: “We told the Minister that we have been very proud of how EIT has served our regions of Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay over the years, providing quality education pathways under a sustainable financial model”.

“Our region has long faced challenges in reducing the number of youth not in employment, education or training, and the progress we have made has been in part due to the broad range of quality programmes on offer through EIT and their campuses.

“The transition to Te Pūkenga has been very difficult for the leadership and governance team, compounded by the cyclone from which the Taradale campus is still recovering.”

As a region, Hazlehurst says our councils will invest $4b over the next 10 years on infrastructure related to recovery and growth.

“More than ever, we will need a skilled workforce to complete this mahi, and many of these workers are yet to be trained.

They also stressed to Minister Simmonds that given the urgency of our recovery, Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay should be a priority to get a locally governed and led training institute working effectively for our communities.

The ministers visit precedes the start of consultation on the future state of vocational education and training following the post-election decision to disestablish Te Pūkenga. Minister Simmonds encouraged those in attendance to provide feedback to the consultation to ensure the regions education and training needs are best served.

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Napier auto technician completes EIT EV programme to keep up with fast evolving industry | EIT Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

5 days ago

Scott Kyle, an auto-technician with the Notman Motor Group in Napier, has benefited from doing the NZ Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Level 5) at EIT.

A Napier auto technician decided to complete an Electric Vehicle programme at EIT as he felt he needed to keep up with an ever-evolving industry.

Scott Kyle, who works for the Notman Motor Group in Napier, has been an auto technician for close to 25 years. He says that he has seen changes in the industry in that time, the most significant being the move to electric vehicles.

“It’s certainly a new style of vehicle to work on, with some big differences. It is not only the motor side of things, but also the systems that run alongside them.”

“I definitely enjoy it as the electrical aspect certainly appealed to me.”

Scott says that he realised that he needed to study further in order to keep up with industry changes.

He said that he was attracted to the NZ Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Level 5)  at EIT because he had done his pre-trade qualifications at EIT and he had heard good reports about one of the tutors Scott Cunningham.

“My employer helped me with funding to do the programme, which was a bonus, but you’ve got to keep up with the times and keep learning.”

“Working on electric vehicles every day means that you need to have a solid understanding of what you are working with.”

Scott, who completed the programme at the end of last year, says that attending classes fitted in well with his working schedule. He said he also enjoyed doing the practical block courses during the year.

“They go right back to step one of what you would need to know, you know, the basic electrical principles and then build that up slowly all the way through so you’ve got a really good understanding and a refresher of some of the stuff you probably haven’t looked at for a few years with electrics.”

“The best thing for me was that I went from where we had all these electric cars coming in and feeling that I did not have a full understanding of how all those systems worked, to feeling a confidence in working with them when I finished the programme.”

Scott says that another important part of the programme was learning about the safety aspect of electric vehicles.

He says that he has no hesitation in recommending the EIT programme to anyone who wanted to progress further as an auto-technician.

Automotive Tutor and Level 5 Electric Vehicle Programme Coordinator Scott Cunningham says having technicians like Scott step up to further their knowledge in our ever-changing industry is great to see.

“Electric and hybrid vehicles are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Technicians who are great in their field need to adapt and upskill to be able to safely diagnose and understand this emerging technology. Scott is definitely a student that absolutely exceled in this programme, now putting his newly gained knowledge to use in industry.

“Having developed a year long, part-time programme in conjunction with Otago Polytechnic, we have spent the past four years delivering this programme, adding content and resources each year to keep up with technology. Having our programme gain overseas recognition from America, wishing to implement our programme and training there speaks volume.

“We have even tailored our delivery to meet the demands for students in Rarotonga that have had an influx of EVs on the Island, and have realised they will have to upskill to meet the new demand. If you are considering upskilling in this area like Scott, I highly recommend you get onboard.”

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Indigenous USA Lakota People contingent welcomed to EIT’s Te Ūranga Waka | EIT Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

4 days ago

An Indigenous United States Lakota People contingent was recently welcomed to EIT’s Te Ūranga Waka on the Hawke’s Bay Campus.

An Indigenous United States Lakota People contingent was recently welcomed to EIT’s Te Ūranga Waka to discuss and celebrate te reo Māori.

A pōwhiri was held on Monday, 24 June for the group, which was accompanied by Sir Tīmoti Kāretu KNZM QSO CRSNZ, a leading New Zealand academic of Māori language and performing arts. The contingent visited Aotearoa to learn how te reo Māori has been and continues to be revitalised. They have experienced the breadth and depth of Māori culture during their tour of New Zealand which included visiting Auckland, Rotorua, Taupō and Hawke’s Bay.

Puti Nuku, Pouarataki – Te Ūranga Waka and Te Whatukura, says that it was a privilege of EIT to not only welcome the indigenous contingent, but also Sir Tīmoti, who is one of the country’s foremost proponents of te reo.

“It was a real honour to be included in the itinerary of the Lakota Peoples. We had a wonderful kōrero about the importance of indigenous cultures and languages.”

“They were most interested in hearing about how te reo continues to be revitalised. We were pleased to be about to show them the kaupapa we are involved in at Te Ūranga Waka,” says Puti.

The group left the country at the end of June.

Te Ūranga Waka Senior Kaiwhakaako, Hiria Tumoana, Sir Tīmoti Karetū and EIT Kaumātua, Matiu Eru during the visit by the Lakota People contingent.

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Young mum says she is fitter and more confident after completing EIT’s Services Pathway programme | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

26 seconds ago

Quinn Sidney (Ngāti Porou), pictured here with son Roha, completed the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Services Pathway) (Level 3) at EIT Tairāwhiti this year.

A young Tolaga Bay mum says that she is fitter and more confident after completing EIT’s Services Pathway programme and now she is hoping to join the police services.

Quinn Sidney (Ngāti Porou) completed the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Services Pathway) (Level 3) at EIT Tairāwhiti this year.

Quinn, 24, who is mum to her toddler son Roha, says that she has a deep love for the outdoors and enjoys spending time with her horses and Roha.

Born and bred in Tolaga Bay, Quinn went to school at Gisborne Girls High, leaving in Year 11 and then enrolled in the NZ Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 3) at EIT.

“I didn’t follow through with that, but I did a couple years apprenticeship for an electrical trade.”

“I enjoyed the money but I didn’t really enjoy the job too much. COVID made things a bit hard but my biggest change was becoming a mum as well, doing another jump in careers.”

Quinn worked in a number of roles in retail, farming and administration, but had wanted to join the police. A previously unsuccessful attempt to join the police led her to enrol in the Services Pathway programme.

“I was super-duper unfit after having baby and I’ve actually tried to join the police previously when I was a lot fitter so I had some sort of idea on what I needed to do to get in.”

“I just knew I wouldn’t make it on my own and I just needed some help.”

“I love the whole aspect of working in a career that shows not one day being the same, and feel the police force could provide this, I knew beforehand that I’m pretty good with my words and showing understanding and empathy towards people from all walks of life, I know one day I’d make a great police woman..”

“Being a new mum made establishing a regular fitness routine challenging. Before the course, I struggled to find motivation and didn’t know where to begin. With the  biggest support from my mum, who helped with childcare and encouraged me throughout the 19 weeks, I overcame initial doubts.”

Quinn says she has no hesitation in recommending the programme for others and says that even if she is not accepted into the police, there are options to get into the army, navy or airforce.

“The course was well-structured, allowing me to complete assessments efficiently, with minimal additional study time needed, making it manageable to balance life as a studying mum.”

Quinn credits Services Pathway tutor Adaam Ross for being supportive and understanding.

“His guidance inspired me to consider joining the territorial forces one day, something I hadn’t known much about before. There was not one day he wasn’t pushing us when we needed it. Adaam definitely helped us learn a thing or two, mentally and physically preparing us for the forces.”

“As I reflect on my time on the course, I now have more energy to be a mum. I have overcome a lot of my anxieties not just with my physical abilities but with being able to give 110 percent effort every day, as well as knowing when to rest and recover.”

EIT Services Pathway tutor Adaam Ross says that Quinn was a really good student who had a lot on her plate.

“She managed to juggle studies and home life really well and was a real leader in the group. At the start of the programme she struggled a lot with the physical side of things. Being a new mum made it hard for her to get back into running and PT (Physical Training), especially on those days when she would turn up after a sleepless night with a teething baby, which I could relate to.”

“She knew what it was going to take to meet the standard physically for the Police and she knuckled down and worked extremely hard, knocking at least 4 minutes off her 2.4km run time.”

“I believe Quinn would make a great Police Officer because she has had a few life experiences, interacting and communicating with people are just a couple of her strong points.”

“It was an absolute pleasure to have her on my programme and I would recommend her to any organisation, I wish Quinn all the very best for her future career and it was great to play a small part in her journey to becoming a Police Officer.”

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EIT ultramarathon runner takes fundraising mission to notorious Death Valley | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

14 seconds ago

EIT tutor Andrew McCrory will run the notorious Death Valley in the United States to raise funds for children with Cerebral Palsy.

In doing so, the 50-year-old Services Pathway Tutor at EIT, and Hawke’s Bay reserve soldier will become just the sixth New Zealander to complete the world’s toughest footrace – the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon – across Death Valley in the USA.

The 135 mile (217km) race has to be completed within 48 hours and entry for the 100 runners is by invitation only.

Andrew has long had the dream to compete at Badwater. Since 2017, when he came across the fundraising page of a young girl named Liv, he has raised thousands and helped 10 children needing Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy Surgery (SDRS) in America.

SDRS is a spinal operation that can give children with cerebral palsy greater walking ability, muscle control and improved balance. Liv’s surgery was $150,000 and wasn’t covered by any government funding.

“It means a lot to me. I’ve seen the difference in the kids from before they’ve gone, to when they’ve come back. They’re more active and they can just do the day-to-day things that we take for granted a whole lot easier after the surgery.”

The road to selection was extensive, with an application that has strict qualifying requirements, and requires extensive details about a runner’s racing history and personal life. They are then selected to run in July of that year via a live Facebook announcement.

The only qualifying race in New Zealand is the Northburn 100 in Cromwell, which Andrew completed last year. He has also completed five ultra marathons over 100 miles, and ran the length of New Zealand – 2,060km – over Christmas and New Year 2021/2022.

“They’ve had people that have applied six, seven years in a row and never got in. And they’ve done far more than I have. But I think for me, why I was selected for one is because I’m from New Zealand and I’m only the sixth Kiwi to ever go and do it.

“And I think with all the fundraising, I’m not out there just collecting medals or ribbons or race numbers like a lot of people do. There’s no ego in it. I’m out there running for a good reason; helping kids.”

Andrew admits he is “pretty excited, but pretty nervous at the same time” ahead of the July 22-24 race.

“I just want to get over there and get it done but at the same time, it’s a lot of kilometres. It really is the heat that I’m sort of worried about. You know I’ve never been at 50 degrees before.”

The past four years has seen Andrew running consistently at the 162km (100 mile) distance.

“I’ve sort of bumped it up since February when I got accepted.”

His training has also consisted of using the Sports Science Lab at the at the EIT Institute of Sport and Health (EIT ISH) where he can run in a hot environment.

“It’s just about getting used to being in the heat and being uncomfortable. Building that mindset because I really hate being on a treadmill. It’s doing things that suck I suppose.”

He is bringing his wife Kathleen, a trained nurse, coach Neil Wagstaff, who crewed at the event in 2008 for Kiwi Lisa Tamati, along with two other mates.

Andrew is thankful to everyone for the support he has received.

EIT has gotten on board as a bronze sponsor, and several community fundraisers have been set up in his honour.

“A huge thank you to everyone that’s come out and supported me. I can’t afford to go and do it by myself. We don’t have that sort of money, and everyone’s just got on board. I’ve had donations coming in left, right and centre which is just amazing. We’ve got some really good sponsors on board as well.”  

For more information and to donate, visit https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/running-badwater-135-for-kids-with-cerebral-palsy

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EIT waka ama tutor to coach NZ elite para mixed team at world competition | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

51 seconds ago

EIT Level 2 waka am tutor Roni Nuku (Ngāti Maniapoto) (right) will coach the NZ Elite Para Mixed Team at the 2024 World Sprint Champs in Hilo, Hawaii in August this year.

Experienced EIT Level 2 waka am tutor Roni Nuku (Ngāti Maniapoto) is putting her skills to practice by coaching the NZ Elite Para Mixed Team at the 2024 World Sprint Champs in Hilo, Hawaii in August this year.

The former Te Ūranga Waka student who is now a tutor is an experienced waka ama champion, having represented New Zealand for many years. She is set to start tutoring the level 2 waka ama programme in the second semester.

Roni says that she is looking forward to taking the team to Hawaii.

“What makes it more exciting is the people themselves and all the extra challenges they have. They don’t have the same physical abilities that we take for granted, so I enjoy trying to make sure that they all feel like they are competent because they are.”

“They’re competitive and they only want the best and they expect a lot from themselves.”

While the trip to the World Champs is a highlight, it is the day to day waka ama instruction that she enjoys. She is looking forward to tutoring the new programme.

“Now’s a good time for a beginner’s programme because it leads into the sprint season. This is for all those families who are thinking about wanting to compete at the national competition in January.”

“The programme will give them a really good basis of water safety, how to canoe a waka together, how to even hold events, which include tikanga, kupu, karakia and waiata.”

Roni says that the cultural component of the programme is open to anyone and not just Māori.

“On the last programme, about 50 percent of the students were not Māori, and what they loved was not only the reo, but also the history.”

“They were encouraged to learn about a waka, a contemporary waka, and most of them do a little bit of research on takitimi, so that becomes special for them.”

“So we’re learning all the time and gaining an appreciation of navigation and paddling and the whole waka journey and the history and then what that means in contemporary times and what that represents as a whānau being together because the waka ama is essentially an activity that the whānau do as one.”

Roni says that the programme is divided up between time on the water and in the classroom.

She says that last year’s programme went very well with about 14 students enrolled.

“We were able to take them away to a couple of regattas. We volunteered at a regatta in Rotorua to get an understanding of how regattas are, so they were able to go on the support boat and understand the safety aspects and help with registrations and cooking kai and even road management.”

Water safety is an important aspect of the programme.

“Living next to the water means that it is important to know everything there is about water safety.”

“One of the great things about the programme is that it is open to adults of all ages. One of our wahine last year was in her 60s, and she loved it.”

“One of the many things that I love about waka ama is that it’s a sport. So I can race with my children, and I can race with my grandchildren, if they want to race with their old nanny. And there’s regattas that are for all ages.”

Roni is also currently working on a Master in Māori Knowledge from Massey University. Her thesis will be on Māori Women Para-athletes.

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Passion for art leads 76-year-old to EIT and to publish children’s book | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

2 days ago

Maureen Box (centre) shows off her new book with Tracey Adams, EIT Reprographic Technician, (left) and Raewyn Paterson, Programme Co-ordinator for EIT’s Level 3 & 4 Certificates in Art and Design.

A lifelong passion for art led 76-year-old Maureen Box to enrol at EIT’s IDEAschool – a move that has resulted in her writing and illustrating a children’s book.

Maureen (Ngāti Māhu, Ngāti Hinepare, Ngai Tāwhao, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Ahuriri) has lived a full life – passionate about education and the arts, as a mother, and in later years a teacher. She is also an active trustee on Moteo Marae, helping with the recovery from damage by Cyclone Gabrielle last year.

Maureen grew up at Moteo, near Puketapu, attending primary school there.  She now lives in Hastings.  Her husband, Paul – a musician – has since passed on, but she is surrounded by family – six children, 15 mokopuna & seven mokomoko  (great grandchildren)

Having retired as a primary school teacher nine years ago, Maureen has always enjoyed painting, stemming back from her childhood years when her father let her paint murals on the lounge wall.

It was when her daughter Melanie, who used to work at EIT, mentioned that there was an Art programme at IDEAschool that she may be interested in, that she decided to give it a go.

That turned out to be the  Level 3 Certificate in Arts and Design, which Maureen started  the same day that Cyclone Gabrielle hit.   The Course was re-started in July on the EIT campus, and despite the disruptions, Maureen was still able to attend and complete the Course. 

She is about to start the Level 4 programme in July,

however, it is her work during Level 3 that led her to opening a new chapter in her life, writing and illustrating children’s books.

When the children’s book assignment was introduced, Maureen was able to act on an idea about publishing a book that she and her daughter had thought of previously. 

“We had to write and illustrate a kiddies book, and the illustrations had to be one of the media that we were taught for that.”

The book is a pūrākau about Moremore, the son of Pānia of the Reef, a well-known story in Hawke’s Bay.  Pānia, a maiden who lived in the sea, used to come ashore at Mataruahoe, also known as Bluff Hill. Karitoki, the handsome son of a Māori chief, met Pānia at the stream flowing from the base of the Hukarere Cliff, and fell in love with her.

A son was born to Pania and Karitoki. Because he had no hair, they called him Moremore; the hairless one.  The book tells the story of Moremore, a kaitiaki (guardian) of the area, who often disguises himself as a shark, a stingray, an octopus, or a log. 

This well-known pūrākau amongst nga hapū o Ahuriri has been passed down orally, but had not been written as a kiddies ‘ book.  

“I researched online recollections, including snippets from the WAI documents, and spoke with a member  of the Tareha family to make sure that it was the authentic version”

“The Tareha family is descended from Moremore and the whakapapa is included in the book”

Maureen has both written the story, and created beautiful illustrations using inks and dyes.  Maureen was taught the conventions of book layouts for publication.  The book, called “Moremore, he Tipua Kaitiaki”, has been published by Maureen through EIT Reprographic Services and she is looking at a second print run as a friend of hers has translated the book into te reo.

It is just the beginning for Maureen, who feels that the stories of Ahuriri and Heretaunga, should be preserved ensuring that the essence of pūrākau, lives on.

“I like to keep busy and I like learning something new. You’re never too old to stop learning, for sure.”

Raewyn Paterson, Programme Co-ordinator for EIT’s Level 3 & 4 Certificates in Art and Design, said: “Maureen was a really high achieving student, who eagerly embraced all of the media that she was introduced to which included textiles, printmaking, drawing, painting, typography, and ceramics.”

“It is so rewarding to see our graduate take the skills she was taught and further develop them into the reality of a published book. “

“We are certainly looking forward to seeing what other projects she will do when she learns more skills in the Level 4 Arts and Design.”