TRACEY RAWINIA HOLLANDS 

Ngāti Tūwharetoa 

Graduate, Poutuarongo Whakaakoranga Kōhungahunga - Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) 

Kaiako, He Iti nā Mōtai 

 Tracey Rawinia Hollands was elated when she graduated at the end of 2025 with her Poutuarongo Whakaakoranga Kōhungahunga – Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood) from Te Wānanga o Raukawa. Her journey started in the most unexpected way: one day she was simply dropping her tamariki off at Ōtaki Kindergarten, and the next she was being asked to help out as an untrained reliever. That got her thinking. How do I become a trained reliever? A quick Google search later and boom, Te Wānanga o Raukawa popped up right there in Ōtaki, only 10 minutes from home. It felt like one of those “what the heck, this is meant to be!” moments. After meeting with Renee Kerehoma, a pūkenga in the Kōhungahunga programme, Tracey was sold. 

Alongside of becoming an early childhood teacher, Tracey had always wanted to begin her “reo haerenga”. With her tamariki still at kindy and kura, she needed a study option that allowed her to be present for them, and this programme ticked every box. Today, she’s fully qualified, working towards her teacher registration, and her reo has grown so much since she first walked through the Wānanga doors. Her tamariki are thriving too. 

In her second year of study, Tracey completed a placement with He Iti nā Mōtai and soon found herself working there as a kairīwhi - reliever. By October 2025, she had stepped into a full-time kaiako role, something she’s proud of. 

Balancing study with whānau life was one of the biggest drawcards of the programme. Her first noho was a bit of a shock to the system. Tracey remembers feeling overwhelmed but also wide-eyed as her world opened up to te ao Māori in ways she hadn’t expected. 

Tracey and her partner both joined the Army when she was 19, but as their whānau grew (five tamariki: two daughters and three sons!), they decided Tracey would step back to be the constant presence at home while her partner continued his Army career, now 21 years in. Their eldest, now 18, is even thinking about following in Mum’s footsteps into early childhood teaching. 

For Tracey, the biggest gift of her studies has been learning more about te ao Māori.  “It changed the way I see things; it changed the way I raised my children. Studying at the Wānanga reaffirmed that what I was doing as a parent was right. I loved my studies. The pūkenga were amazing and supportive. They helped me realise my weaknesses were actually my strengths. I wasn’t good at te reo, but I would try.” 

Tracey wholeheartedly recommends the Poutuarongo Whakaakoranga Kōhungahunga programme to others because her experience was so uplifting. Her message to anyone considering it? Dive in and commit fully. Her future plans include completing her teacher registration, soaking up everything she can about kōhungahunga and puna reo, and one day opening a centre of her own. 

Ka whāngaia, ka tupu, ka puāwai - That which is nurtured will grow, then blossom.