Biography
Role
Emma's role at Te Rito Maioha is to help guide students through their studies. To provide them with advice to prompt their thinking, but to also hear their concerns. Her main focus within her role is to ensure that Pasifika voices are heard, and their values are upheld, with the support of our organisation.
Education background
Her teaching career started within Kohanga Reo, she then moved onto Mainstream centres and also Pasifika. A highlight of her career was opening a Cook Island Play group, where they taught the basic’s of Cook Island Māori through language, resources, songs (imene) and pray (pure). Another career highlight is to now teach in the Pasifika diploma space.
Research background
In 2023, she has taken the opportunity to work a long side her fellow Pasifika colleague with research. The area that they have focused on is “How is the language, culture and identity of Pasifika tamariki, upheld and nurtured within mainstream centres”. This topic is very important to her, as a Cook Island Māori born in Aotearoa. Therefore, it is very important that our Pasifika tamariki are not lost within the New Zealand education system.
Teaching interests
Emma is very curious about Pasifika ways, knowing and being and how it fits within the New Zealand society. Therefore, when she teaches, she is interested in knowing what the thoughts of Pasifika and Māori students are and how they interpret their views. "My heritage was very strong within my household and has given me a firm foundation. But growing up throughout my education journey it was not celebrated or acknowledged. This has even me the drive to make sure that this does not repeat today. As an approach to my mahi and the organisations it is important that we have a voice, and our views are shared."