Posted on 14 September 2026
Our LearnersFor Open Polytechnic graduate, and fluent te reo Māori speaker Te Roro-O-Te-Rangi Henry-Eparaima (Tuhourangi Ngāti Wahiao), his culture is “everything” to him.
Te Roro graduated with a Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) at our Auckland ceremony in May 2026.
His new qualification has allowed him to go from unqualified to registered kaiako (teacher) at Little Waikato Scholars Prep School in Hamilton.
According to Te Roro, the Little Waikato Scholars Prep School has created an ECE centre that is rich in tikanga (values and practices), manaakitanga (care and respect for others)), and kotahitanga (unity).
“I am grateful to be working in an ECE centre that encourages, supports and strengthens my Māori and the reo of our tamariki (children),” Te Roro says.
“Coming into a very female forward industry, I was whakamā (shy) about sharing my knowledge and understanding.”
“The support my centre has given me, has not only strengthened my culture, but I’ve had the privilege of developing and growing te ao Māori values of our kaiako and tamariki.”
Te Roro hasn’t always been a kaiako or worked at an ECE centre.
After losing his job during the COVID years, he wanted a career that pushed him out of his comfort zone and challenged him as a person and ākonga (learner).
He got the opportunity to work part-time in an ECE centre during this period and eventually it turned full-time.
Te Roro decided to start his learner journey with New Zealand’s specialist flexible online learning provider because his wife was already studying with Open Polytechnic.
“I found my passion for working with our tamariki as an unqualified kaiako, and just knew study was the next step in my journey,” he says.
Open Polytechnic offered him the opportunity to study online, which suited his personal and work life.
“Being able to commit to mahi full-time and study full-time was definitely what I was looking for,” Te Roro says.
“Receiving further education was the best move for my career!”
Te Roro found his Open Polytechnic learning to be very practical, especially the practicum placements.
“I found these to be informative and eye opening in my career,” he says.
“Getting to witness and experience other ECE centres helped to develop my own teaching philosophy and teaching skills.”
Te Roro was very proud to graduate with his Open Polytechnic qualification earlier this year.
“It was such a fulfilling moment to celebrate my achievements and accomplishments over the last few years,” he exclaimed.
It’s Te Wiki o te Reo Māori from 14 – 21 September 2026.
The theme for the week remains consistent from previous years: “Ake ake ake – A Forever Language”, the 2026 focus this year is Te Reo Towns - a celebration of the communities who have kept te reo Māori alive, and an invitation for all of Aotearoa to help it flourish into the future.