Marya-Luise finds Te Reo useful for career

Marya-Luise finds Te Reo useful for chasing down a career in social work

Maori Language Week 4-10 July acknowledges Manaakitanga, a theme that encompasses making people feel welcome and how regard and care is given to others in our company.

One person who epitomises what this year’s theme for Māori Language Week impresses upon all of us in Aotearoa is NorthTec student, Marya-Luise Sexton.

Before discovering education, Marya-Luise, led what she described as a ‘negative lifestyle’, shadowed by drugs, alcohol, gangs and even time in prison. “I lost my way in everything,” she said reflecting on it.

Marya-Luise (Ngāpuhi and Ngati Pukenga) now aspires to soon be able to help others turn their lives around by completing a Bachelor of Social Services degree at NorthTec.

She has been studying towards her Certificate in Te Pokaitahi Ngāpuhi-nui-tonu at NorthTec and mentioned that learning about Māori culture would help her relate to and understand others better as a social worker thereby, putting her in a stronger position to eventually make a difference.

”I know from my experiences, I would feel at ease with someone who had that experience and understands both a person’s situation and their culture.”

Before beginning her Māori studies this year, the 51 year-old said she had previously “shunned” her Māori side. However, being able to reconnect with it and being able to establish a respect for her culture had given her a greater perspective on life.

“The course has helped me to rediscover myself and my Māori side. It’s showing me how beautiful life is, especially from a Māori point of view,” she alluded to.

To assist with her endeavour to become a social worker, Marya-Luise has been studying Pipitanga (aspects of Māori culture) and Te Reo at NorthTec this year. It follows several years of study at NorthTec where, in 2007, she completed the National Certificate in Horticulture (Level 2) at Tamaterau, and in 2009, completed her National Certificate in Mental Health and Addictions she said, the pre-requisite for the Bachelor of Social Services degree.

Marya-Luise said she is undecided yet whether she will carry on with studies in Māori in 2012 or begin the social services degree.

Maori Language Commission Chief Executive, Glenis Philip-Barbara said the key message for the Language Week was to promote Māori language use in communities and homes.

“Here is a golden opportunity to think of all the ways you can act positively in your community and utilize the language and practice of Manaakitanga to do so.”

ENDS

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