Broadcasting
Vanessa Gray
In the often cut-throat world of film and television, Vanessa Gray is redefining how creative people work by replacing competition with collaboration.
Miriamo Kamo
At high school, self-confessed goal-setter and go-getter Miriama Kamo secretly wanted to be a journalist, she just wasn't sure how to get there.
Computing
Shenaegh Hayden
One of Shenaegh Hayden's aims in life is to inspire youth to pursue positive choices in their lives.
Design
Hori Te Ariki Mataki
Bachelor of Design graduate Hori Te Ariki Mataki is the first in his family to get a degree.
Engineering
Lisa Hemopo
Mother-of-four Lisa Hemopo hadn't studied "properly" for 30 years when she enrolled in a Diploma in Civil Engineering.
Māori Language
Teina Anderson
Being born and raised in a bilingual community, Teina Anderson has always had a passion for Te Reo Māori. It was in high school that he realised he wanted to use his passion to become a secondary school teacher.
Tāmara Rochford Kerr
From a very young age, Tāmara Rochford Kerr was passionate about education. But it wasn’t until she visited her family marae for the first time that her passion for Te Reo education was sparked.
Jodi (Te Ao Mārama) Apiata
Te Ao Mārama (Jodi) was a team leader and facilitator for youth adventure therapy programmes when the urge to learn about his language and culture motivated him to enrol in the Bachelor of Māori Language and Indigenous Studies at Ara.
Henare Te Aika-Puanaki
Even before he enrolled at Ara, Henare Te Aika-Puanaki felt right at home in the place he was to study for the next three years.
Haydon Richards
Haydon Richards was raised in the Pākehā world. He was accepted into law at the University of Canterbury and his future looked bright.
Justin Tipa
Justin Tipa left school at 15 and at the time he didn't see tertiary education as an option.
Shady McGregor Pākau
During her time at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whanau Tahi secondary school, Shady McGregor Pākau had visited Te Puna Wanaka at Ara several times for various events.
Charles Brown (Matua Charlie)
In his younger years, Matua Charlie struggled with the education system. Seeking a fresh start, he moved to Australia. Eventually however, a lack of fulfilment through not knowing his language and culture brought him back to New Zealand to reconnect.
Tāmara Rochford Kerr
From a very young age, Tāmara Rochford Kerr was passionate about education. But it wasn’t until she visited her family marae for the first time that her passion for Te Reo education was sparked.
Andrew Kirk
Andrew is studying Bachelor of Māori Language and Indigenous Studies at Ara and his goal is to have his own tourism business.
Te Awhiroa Lewis Kuka-Sweet
The Bachelor of Māori Language and Indigenous Studies has been the perfect way for Te Awhiroa Lewis Kuka-Sweet to advance his dream of teaching Te Reo Māori at secondary school level.
Music Arts
Clayton Hiku
Jazz musician Clayton Hiku grew up surrounded by music. His earliest memories were of his whānau jamming after dinner.
Henare Kaa
Henare Kaa didn't start playing the drums until he was 16 but it didn't take long before he knew he wanted to be a professional musician.
Nursing
Rochelle Pereiro
Redundancy was a profound experience for Rochelle Pereiro, forcing her to think seriously about her future in a way she never had before.
Trades
Tessa Gregory
Learning a trade appealed to Tessa, who chose to study painting and decorating.