When Your Roots and the Legacy of Care Become Your Calling

Kristy Taurua-Kite’s journey into the Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) is deeply connected to her roots and to the act of caring that has always been present in her life. Passionate about tamariki and with a strong desire to become a kaiako, Kristy once felt that whakamā was holding her back. But it was the person who first taught her the values of care and teaching who ultimately encouraged her to pursue a new career. A life changing moment would soon give her the courage to follow that path.

After a long battle with cancer, Kristy’s mother passed away in 2021. While her loss was deeply painful, it also became the turning point that encouraged Kristy to change the direction of her life and pursue a career in ECE. Kristy felt that her mother would continue guiding her from above.

Her connection to her roots and values goes even deeper. Kristy is a proud Māori wahine. She whakapa to Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tiipa and Ngāti Mahanga, and one of the most meaningful aspects of her work in ECE has been seeing how amazed many tamariki are when learning te reo Māori and beginning to understand tikanga. Atua and pūrākau are highlights in their days, especially for their forest school tamariki.

Kristy chose to study with NZTC after receiving a scholarship through TeachNZ, along with a good discount on her first year of the Bachelor of Teaching (ECE). The online study format worked well with her lifestyle and helped her navigate some of the challenges she faced along the way.

Her favourite course is Culminating Integrative Assessment. As she explains, “the piece of that course that stuck with me is the realization that instincts are actually rooted in Whakamana and Kotahitanga.”

Kristy is currently working in ECE and brings her values into her daily practice: “Each day I work closely with tamariki to support their needs and wellbeing. I integrate te reo into our daily rituals, set up core learning environments that support their learning journeys, and work alongside my team to make sure our tamariki are safe and happy. I build relationships with tamariki and whānau to create a sense of belonging. I intend to make every day interesting for all.”

As someone who is deeply guided by care and values, her advice for students balancing study and full-time work is simple but powerful: “Ask for help as much as you can. Utilise your resources and tutors, stay focused on your goal and make sure to take time for yourself. It isn’t an easy road, but it is definitely worth the challenge.”

Looking ahead, Kristy’s goal is to become a fluent te reo Māori speaker and to continue strengthening her teaching strategies so that using the language in practice becomes even more natural.

For Kristy, this journey is also a way of honouring the legacy her māmā left behind. She describes her mother as “someone who saw the best in everyone” - and there may be no better place for that spirit to live on than in a classroom surrounded by tamariki.