Much like staying fit and emotionally stable are vital for good health, so too is ensuring your financial wellbeing, says Te Wānanga o Aotearoa kaiako Midge Te Kani.
Midge teaches the Certificate in Money Management at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa’s Whirikoka campus in Gisborne.
The 20-week, Level 3 programme is for anyone who wants to take control of their personal finances, set financial goals and better manage their money for the prosperity of their whānau.
Midge (Te Aitanga-ā-Māhaki, Ngāti Oneone and Ngāti Porou) says people should consider the programme because most of us aren’t taught how to look after our finances at school.
“These are things like how to budget, set financial goals and how to create financial wealth – all of these things are a part of this programme,” she says.
Tauira (students) on the programme learn how to manage their money through different life stages.
They learn the importance of debt management, credit ratings, savings and investment including Kiwisaver, mortgages and planning for retirement.
Regardless of a person’s circumstances – Midge says anyone can navigate their way towards a better financial situation and prosperity through a plan of action and financial goal setting.
She says previous tauira have turned their financial circumstances around by using the tools this programme offers.
“I’ve seen people go from being a beneficiary to employment to owning their own homes. These people get more income to create wealth and soon whānau go away and they’re going on holidays.”
“I’ve seen these outcomes in our programmes. I’ve seen people in part time work, nannies and people with a deficit frame of mind come here to manage money but instead they transformed their pathways to something bigger.”
“They ended up creating wealth, finding employment and they did everything they could to go out and change themselves.”
