Tamara Solomon

Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Raukawa

2025 Graduate of Heke Reo Māori - Diploma in Te Reo Māori

Student, Poutuarongo Reo Māori - Bachelor of Reo Māori

Parttime Kaikōkiri for Te Puna Reo o Ngāti Toa

Tamara Solomon has returned to Te Wānanga o Raukawa to continue her studies in te reo Māori. Tamara successfully graduated with the Heke Reo Māori at the end of 2025 and while her plan was to do just the one year; she loved her studies so much she has returned. 

Reclaiming te reo rangatira is something Tamara has wanted to do for years. She pondered on it for a while and now has taken up the challenge. In 2025, she gave up her fulltime job to study fulltime, the first time ever. This year she is paying her bills by working parttime as the kaikōkiri at Te Puna Reo o Ngāti Toa – the language nest for Ngāti Toa tamariki, a place she loves. She loves the tamariki and is related to most of them, and it’s the ideal environment for the acquisition of te reo. 

Understanding what is being said in the whaikōrero and speaking te reo with fluency are Tamara’s drivers. As she has added more mōteatea to her kete, she has been able to support the pae more. She really does just want to be able to speak and understand te reo. Another driver is that she wants to continue the legacy of her grandparents, Matuaiwi and Harata Solomon who were leaders amongst Ngāti Toa, Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai and Ngāti Raukawa. Tamara’s grandfather was also a Raukawa Marae trustee at the time when Te Wānanga o Raukawa was first established and he and Tamara’s grandmother were very much involved in the Whakatupuranga Rua Mano Movement.

Tamara has lived in Takapūwāhia all her life and has been fortunate to build her own home in front of her parents, across the road from the marae on Nohorua Street, where most of the Solomon whānau lived when she was growing up. She loves her whānau, her marae and living amongst her whānau of Ngāti Toa. Her dad, Nelson although gone now was great at always explaining their connections when he introduced her to whānau. So, Tamara is now very aware of her links to her wider whānau. 

A life member of Toa Women's Hockey Club, the eldest club in Wellington, Tamara endeavours to watch all the games of the Ngāti Toa Women’s Premier One team. She was also involved with and was the secretary for the Ngāti Toa Waka Ama committee when her daughter was paddling. These are just some of the other activities that keep life busy for her.

Tamara loves how the pūkenga reo – language teachers mix up the different teaching and learning styles in her classes. She feels this suits her way of learning and she is thriving through this. Because she has had a great experience at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, she recommends it to everyone, whānau and friends.



The biggest challenge for Tamara is speaking te reo Māori aloud in front of people. This year, it's a wero to herself, to be brave. It’s something she shares with others, but she advises everyone to “Just do it!”

Ko taku reo taku ohooho, ko taku reo taku mapihi mauria