With a middle name of Hinekura (girl of the school), some say that EIT student Lillian Jenner (Ngāi Tahu) was destined to become a teacher.

Lillian, 22, is currently in her second year of the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) at EIT Tairāwhiti and says that she just loves studying at the institute. She calls the story of her middle name a “self-fulfilling prophecy”.

Lillian says it was a high school teacher who inspired her to become one.

Before she started the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) last year, she first enrolled in the NZ Certificate in Te Reo Māori (Level 2) in 2022. She also took on the NZ Certificate in Te Reo Māori (Level 3).

She says that it was all worth it. She also had her work at the hospital as an orderly, which she fitted around her studies, saying that “the good thing is that the hospital is always open”.

Lillian, who is on the board of Younited EIT Student Association, has really enjoyed her te reo journey.

“The first year I had full immersion study during the day, all the time talking to people that are like-minded.”

“And subsequently, it was very helpful for my teaching as well. That’s one of my strong suits in this teaching course. And I didn’t even realise how handy it would be.”

Lillian, who has Scottish heritage on her father’s side, says she is looking forward to maybe teaching in the South Island one day as her mother’s family (Ngāi Tahu) come from there.

“When I go and visit there eventually and maybe my heart will sing, but I think I might have a bit more work to do before I go and put myself in a fully immersed Māori school, but I would really like to.”

“I hope that all of our schools in New Zealand will eventually become bilingual just automatically.”

But for now Lillian, who attended Gisborne Girls’ High, is just enjoying her studies. She particularly enjoys the placements at schools – last year she went to Mangapapa School and this year at St Mary’s.

“We get many placements and I think that is a big benefit of staying in your own community if you want to eventually get a job there.”

Lillian says that one thing she enjoyed about both her te reo programmes and the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) are the tutors and lecturers.

“They are just fabulous and so motivational and they really do a good job to support their students.”

Emma McFadyen, EIT Tairāwhiti Site Coordinator and Lecturer, Primary Education, said: “Lillian’s understanding of te reo Māori me ōna tikanga is an asset to the education community, along with honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”

“The practical nature of the EIT Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) means she gets plenty of opportunity to teach and learn with the ākonga. It’s exciting to observe her progress in the degree and we look forward to the day we can celebrate her graduation.”