Posted on 25 February 2026
Our Learners
Photo: Rebekah Tuileto'a Pule Ma’ata – Pasifika (left) with Tessa at the Christchurch graduation ceremony in 2025.
Christchurch-based Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education (ECE) graduate, Tessa Karati is grateful for the important role that Open Polytechnic, New Zealand's leading flexible online provider, played in her career.
Gaining her qualification has led Tessa directly to a promotion at her workplace, St Margaret’s College Preschool.
Tessa was working in the ECE centre as an unqualified support teacher during the three years of her degree with Open Polytechnic, so when she gained her qualification, Tessa was ready to be promoted to a teaching position.
While Tessa had previously worked or studied in a wide range of other industries including hospitality, retail, administration, customer service, interior design and massage therapy, it was a love of working with tamariki (children) that inspired her to become an ECE teacher.
She started working in the ECE industry, at her current workplace five years ago, after a two-year stint as a nanny in London.
“It's cliche, but it’s the children. I love being a part of their learning and development,” she said.
“I'm glad that I've finally found a career that's landed.”
Because she was already working at an ECE centre before choosing to become qualified, Tessa not only had an idea of the tasks required, but also how the industry worked.
“I'm still happy and wanting to be in it,” Tessa said.
Tessa says that having the flexibility to work while she studied with Open Polytechnic was the best option for her.
“On one hand it was great because it meant I had the flexibility to fit in study around my own schedule, however on the other hand, this meant I had to be pretty disciplined which was challenging in itself,” Tessa says.
Tessa was the student speaker at Open Polytechnic’s most recent Christchurch graduation ceremony.
During her speech, she acknowledged the impact that studying with Open Polytechnic, has had on her life.
“I thank Open Polytechnic, for sensitively, but boldly calling us up and out to be advocates, and for helping to shape not just who I am as a teacher, but who I am as a person,” she said.
She likened her learner journey to a “relationship” with her degree as she went through the five stages of attraction, romance, disillusionment, commitment and acceptance.
Through her studies, Tessa, who identifies as a Cook Islander, New Zealand Māori and Pākehā realised how disconnected from her culture she had become and discovered that she had absorbed stories about her culture that were rooted in deficit, and how and why that was.
“It generated a deep sense of responsibility to do better for our future generations and enable them to thrive,” Tessa said.
“I still have a lot to learn, but even so, I know my role as a kaiako (teacher) is more than teaching, it’s advocating for our tamariki (children), ensuring they grow up hearing positive messages about themselves, knowing that they are valued.”
Tessa’s cultural background helps her understand and advocate for minority groups, which in turn makes her a better teacher.
“I’m pretty motivated to see Pasifika learners succeed in education because I know that education can bring about positive change and can open doors to new opportunities for our people in this generation and beyond.”
Open Polytechnic holds graduation ceremonies each year in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.
Including those awarded in absentia, around 1150 graduates received their diplomas or degrees from Open Polytechnic in 2025.
According to a 2024 Verian student satisfaction survey, 94% of students are satisfied with their Open Polytechnic studies.
For further details about studying with us, go to the ECE programmes' section of the Open Polytechnic website.