Te Rito O Waipareira 2002 - Present #Wai40

In 2002 Te Whānau o Waipareira opened its Early Childhood Centre, Te Rito o Waipareira and 23-year-old Maia Morey (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri) was one of many foundation babies to attend.

Te Rito o Waipareira accommodated as many as 30 tamariki up to the age of five with flexible hours for parents, like Maia’s mother Wendy who worked at Waipareira. Children could be dropped off at 7:30 AM and collected up until 6:00 PM every weekday.

Upon its establishment there were a few babies enrolled, including Maia and her long-time friend Rawinia Tamihere.

“I think I was three years old and I left when I was five. I remember we would have really cool birthdays and there would be mean-as cakes, everyone would sing happy birthday. And I was always in the sandpit. I’m still friends with Te Reo Iriaka, Honore Hakaraia and Rawinia”.

Maia attended Ranui Primary School, Henderson Intermediate, Massey High and then Rutherford College.

“After I left school, I went to Unitec and I did my first year of a building apprenticeship. I was looking for a job for ages, but nobody would hire me because I was a female. Seriously I was hunting for six months and decided not to put my career on hold so I did a Limited Services Volunteers at Whenuapai for six weeks. This course gives you transferrable skills and helps you get a job”.

Maia moved to Greenlane Hospital on a scholarship course for six week before working at Mercy Ascot in billing and administration, however she was feeling unfulfilled.

She began teaching mau rakau at Ranui primary school and found her niche when she enrolled in the Navy.

“It’s pretty good. Right now I’m a marine technician studying to be an electrician. There are not many females in my trade but I find it really rewarding and I’m determined. I want to become an officer. I feel like they need mentoring for Māori with basic training when you first start so everyone feels more comfortable with our culture. It’s an advantage to be a wahine and Māori. I am proud to be who I am, proud to kōrero Māori, proud to have gone to Te Rito o Waipareira and proud to represent my whakapapa, my tipuna and my whānau”.