Connect Me to the Traditions and Culture of my Homeland

Moetetau Temanu | Bachelor of Education & Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE)

To mark Cook Islands Language Week, Moetetau (Moe) Temanu shares about her journey as a ECE Kaiako, who proudly represents her Cook Islands heritage and culture. Moe is from the island of Penrhyn, one of the northern islands within the Cook Islands.

Moe, graduated with a Bachelor of Education this year at the April Te Rito Maioha ceremony. She is currently studying towards a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE) and a student at our Manakau Takiwā Ako. Moe, is a Kaiako at Mykindy in Onehunga (Auckland) where she has taught since November 2022. Prior to this, she was based at Tiny Stars Punanga Reo, a Cook Island bilingual ECE centre.

“The theme for Cook Islands Language Week is: Ātuitui’ia au ki te au peu o tōku kāinga Ipukarea (Connect me to the traditions and culture of my homeland). The cultures and traditions of the Cook Islands are close at heart for Moe, as she reflects about her beloved homeland: ‘Growing up in the Cook Islands, specifically in Penrhyn. I was raised by a village. A village to me is family including extended families because everyone in the village was related and played a role in the community to support the parents, in raising their tamariki. Cook Islands language was encouraged in the homes and community including schools. I believe my heritage, my place in the family and the heritage I proudly represent, have influenced my beliefs about teaching…it has also influenced my identity in knowing where I belong and how I can make a difference not only in my own family, but also when connecting with people from all walks of life.”

Familiar to many Pasifika families in Aotearoa, is the relocation or move from our island homelands to new settings. Moe shares about the era of ‘adapting’ in Aotearoa and the transition from the Cook Islands: ‘I was able to appreciate and acknowledge the culture, language, and identity of diverse people in the community…This has given me a wealth of knowledge of the importance of acknowledging different cultures and languages in Aotearoa New Zealand. Also has greatly influenced my passion of teaching and supporting tamariki; to study and complete my graduate diploma of teaching at Te Rito Maioha.

Moe, is an encouraging example to us all; balancing the commitments as of her full-time mahi as an ECE teacher and commitment as a life-long learner, transitioning from the Bachelor of Education into the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE), she offers her final reflections around her learning journey so far: ‘I have enjoyed the learnings provided from each lecturer at Te Rito Maioha, that are very helpful and resourceful. These learnings I have gained have given me an understanding and more knowledge of how and what I need to do in my practice to become a critical, ethical and professional teacher.’