Member Spotlight - Te Marie Tahere.

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Ko Kirioke te maunga, ko Punakitere te awa, ko Ngātokimatawhaorua te waka, ko Ngāpuhi te iwi, ko Ngāti Tautahi te hapū, ko Te Iringa te marae, ko Te marie Tahere toku ingoa.

I am a nursing lecturer at UCOL Wairarapa. I first came to UCOL as an ākonga to study for my nursing degree. After I graduated in 2014, I returned in November 2020 as a nursing lecturer. I have 3 adult sons, and my first mokopuna is due in the next few weeks.

What do you love about your work?

What I love about this mahi is the culture on our campus, the relational approach to teaching and learning, and seeing the investment into our future with ākonga and their successes. Additionally, the challenge of extending myself through variety in my mahi: from curriculum development to teaching in class, clinical skills in the lab, or supporting ākonga in clinical placement.

What are some of the challenges?

My challenges will be consistent with our collective challenges across the motu, and I approach them with as much flexibility as I am able, including joining the union and becoming a delegate. I joined the TEU for the collective approach, the pursuit of balance, and the knowledge that someone is beside me and that I can be there for others.

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