FINDING HOME THROUGH STUDIES AT TE WĀNANGA O RAUKAWA

THE REWARDS OF RECONNECTION

Nikki-Rose Larainah Mihaere

Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa

Ākonga, Poutuarongo Toi Whakairo - Bachelor of Design and Art (Carving)

Nikki had been working as a limited authority teacher but resigned from her position at the beginning of 2026 to concentrate on her studies and carving. She has always been artistically inclined and felt that whakairo was an amazing way to connect with her artistic wairua. She also thought whakairo and banging a mallet would help her let go of some negativities.

There were a few reasons why Nikki decided on Te Wānanga o Raukawa as the place to study. The campus being situated in Ōtaki, a town where you hear everyone speaking te reo Māori was one. She felt this was the kind of environment she needed to revitalise her own ability to speak te reo. She was hoping to make more connections to her whānau, hapū and iwi, reconnecting to her roots. She was also inspired to study by her mother who had an arts degree and who then moved into midwifery.  

Nikki finds whakairo art amazing. She intends providing her whānau and hapū with her work at some stage. She would love to undertake whakairo as a fulltime occupation but is not sure it would sustain her fully. However, in the last six months, she has been approached by a few people wanting to commission her to make taonga. She has found that incredible. She doesn't think that the commissions would have happened without her being a student of the Poutuarongo Toi Whakairo programme. On that, she could eventually build her own business.

Born in Hastings, Nikki is the youngest of five siblings to her mother, and she has a younger sister by her dad. She has two brothers and three sisters.  They didn't have te reo Māori in their home, but they did visit their marae occasionally, mainly for tangihanga. That was one way that they kept connected to their marae and hapū. It wasn't until her first year of studies at Te Wānanga o Raukawa when she had to research and write about her marae that she visited there. This was her main marae of Te Rauhina which is in Wairoa, and it felt like "home". Her whanaunga were beautiful people and there were so many from the Mihaere whānau. Going to this marae, connecting with the whānau, and knowing that this is exactly where she is from has been some of the most rewarding aspects of her studies. She has found that her ability to speak te reo Māori has increased significantly along with her carving skills.

Nikki shared, "The most challenging aspect of my studies was trying to reconnect to my marae. Getting that "in" was hard. I know from other students that was their experience as well. It was difficult but so rewarding."

Her advice to others contemplating enrolling in this programme is, "It is not for the faint-hearted. You need a backbone."

Currently, Nikki is in her final year of the Poutuarongo Toi Whakairo. She is excited to be so close to graduating.