Many Success Stories at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa

We all love a good success story, and this month Te Wānanga o Aotearoa have one which proves how study with them can change your life. As the story goes, Franny Marsters and Sera Pulepule were studying at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and first met in the computer labs as tauira for the Level 2 and 3 National Certificate in Computing two years ago and bonded through their love of family and learning. 

Since then they've gone on to complete two other programmes together, the 18-week level 4 computing programme as well as the 18-week level 3 Certificate in First Line Management and Leadership. Franny was a Cook Island customer services representative who had experience with computers, but a chronic illness diagnosed in 2011 prevented her from working. However, through her own determination her condition improved to the point where she felt ready to upskill and find employment again.

Franny now says, “The people are awesome, the tutors are awesome, and the support services really great." She's also discovered her passion to pursue a career in IT and is now currently enrolled in the Diploma of Information Technology.

Sera has also stayed on at the wānanga this year to pursue her interest in raranga to help hone her flower arrangement skills on display every week at her church services. Everything Sera studies is to add value to the work she does for the Samoan Assemblies of God, a fellowship her father, the late Reverend Dr. Samani Pulepule helped build in Auckland back in 1967.

"I was my parents' primary caregiver and had never thought of moving on. Then mum passed away suddenly and dad was heartbroken. We buried her on a Saturday and he died on Tuesday," says Sera. A year of grieving followed their passing in 2013, before she decided she needed to "get up and do something."

"I love to tell the young ones to come in and take these courses as all the training is free. I even recruited a Māngere Town Centre librarian, she loves it here. I'm just happy that I know what to do. I'm proud of myself and that I can work the computer."

Established in 1984, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa provides holistic education opportunities of the highest quality for Māori, peoples of Aotearoa and the world. Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is one of New Zealand's largest tertiary education providers, offering a comprehensive range of certificates to degree level qualifications to New Zealanders of all ages and walks of life.

Operating from over 80 locations throughout the country, they provide a unique learning environment, with the aim to overcoming barriers to learning, and to meet the needs of all within the communities they serve, so to find out more please go to http://www.twoa.ac.nz .