Member Spotlight - Santana Ammunson.
12 May 2026
MAI MAKETŪ KI TONGARIRO
KO TE ARAWA TE WAKA
KO TE ARAWA MĀNGAI-NUI ŪPOKO TŪTAKITAKI
My name is Santana Ammunson and I am a Learning and Access Facilitator (LAF) at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in Rotorua.
Additionally, I awhi our people as TEU Kaiarataki of our branch covering members in Rotorua, Taupō, Tokoroa and Whakatāne. I also am one of our Tumu Āwhina on National Council representing Māori voice.
My favourite part about being an LAF is being a part of our ākonga journey – support with overcoming personal barriers and then watching them achieve. The greatest challenge of this mahi would be doing a dual role and the lack of supports our ākonga have now coming off the back of a major restructure. We lost 25 support staff and not having the time capacity to support everyone within the week across three of our campuses as well as online ākonga.
Being a part of the TEU is important to me because I get a sense of belonging working alongside a bigger whānau who have similar values and goals to me. This is comforting when you personally come from a big whānau – going to work knowing you have your work whānau there is a relief, especially when you are being challenged in the workplace.
Even though I am one of the youngest employees on any of our campuses, I was volunteered to lead by our members whilst on annual leave overseas, and I know here at Toi Ohomai (Rotorua) they really appreciate the mahi that I have done here at branch level as well as nationally. This appreciation motivates me and reminds me that age is nothing but a number. I have the experience and passion to do the job, and love advocating for tangata rights.