Skip Content

Social Services Kaiako Gaylene Stevens believes the new vision and mission for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa “clears away the clutter” and makes it easier for her to understand.

Gaylene teaches the Certificate in Social Work in Christchurch and says reducing the vision and mission to two one-liners had helped provide clarity for her and her class of tauira.

“I love the vision it makes it more accessible, in this instance the message is not lost in words, it is transferable across all layers and is inclusive of all people.”

The mission of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is Tauira Success and its vision is – Whānau Transformation Through Education.

Gaylene of Ngāti Porou descent says she sees whānau transformation right before her eyes as she watches the transition of her tauira on the Level 4 certificate programme.

“What I see are these wāhine taking hold of education and turning their worlds around and transforming them to move forward.”

Gaylene provided her feedback about the vision and mission after a presentation by Te Taiurungi Dr. Jim Mather about the progress TWoA is making following the conclusion of Te Raumairanga.

Dr. Mather said he was impressed with the positive changes at the Christchurch site and agreed that simplifying the mission and vision were important.
“When I read the past one I couldn’t remember past the tenth bullet point, so it's important to  simplify things like tauira success.”


 Back to news & events

Published On: 24 May, 2016

Article By: Te Anga Nathan



Other Articles

  • 9 July 2025

    Victoria's Journey: Embracing te reo Māori in healthcare

    Nurse Victoria Richmond shares how learning te reo Māori through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa’s Papa Reo programme has deepened her cultural competency and patient care. Discover how flexible online learning is helping bridge cultural gaps in Aotearoa’s healthcare system.

  • 02 July 2025

    Turning challenges into change

    Discover how Ian Rauwhero (Tainui, Waiohua, Ngāti Pikiao) transformed personal challenges into community impact through study at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. From family court struggles to social services success, Ian’s inspiring journey highlights the power of education, whānau support, and cultural connection.

  • 18 June 2025

    Painting from within: Nakita’s creative awakening

    Discover the creative journey of contemporary Māori artist Nakita Tilson, whose passion for painting and Māori art was nurtured through her studies at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. From overcoming health challenges to creating powerful works like Hine Tōhenga, Nakita’s story is one of resilience, identity, and painting from within.

  • 11 June 2025

    New country, new skills for Sophie

    Discover how Sophie Li, a recent immigrant from China, built confidence and community through study at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. From English language to money management and small business, Sophie’s journey highlights the power of accessible education for new migrants in Aotearoa.