Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
14 seconds ago
Ami Hokianga is in her third year of the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at EIT Tairāwhiti.
A passion for policy and legislation led a student to study social work at EIT Tairāwhiti.
Ami Hokianga (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou) felt that she needed to develop herself further after a number of years working across the legal, health and horticultural sectors. She decided to enrol in the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at EIT’s Tairāwhiti Campus to pursue her interest in developing workable policy solutions for New Zealand’s social services.
Ami, wanted to remain in Tairāwhiti with her whānau and said that she realised the social work degree at EIT, was the quickest way for her to see the direct impacts of policy on the front line.
“I think that from the beginning of my studies with EIT my focus has always been policy and legislation.”
“My reason to study social work was to understand the structures and the systems that bind us, particularly for Māori.”
Growing up as an “army baby” Ami spent most of her early school years in Auckland and Wellington and then across to El Paso, Texas on the United States Mexico border to complete intermediate. Ami returned to Aotearoa and completed Year 9 to Year 13, boarding at Turakina Māori Girls’ College and eventually moving to Western Australia to pursue a career in legal studies.
Ami returned to Tairāwhiti to raise her daughters on the East Coast and worked across the health and horticulture sectors before realising she wanted to pursue a degree with EIT.
“I have found it refreshing. I love to learn. And so that’s probably why my career is so vast in regard to law, health, and then horticulture. Learning for me is a huge thing and actually coming back to that study space was exactly what I needed.”
Ami, who is currently in the third year of the four-year degree, says that while the programme has had its challenges, this has allowed her to push herself in regard to learning and responding to different perspectives.
Another aspect of the programme Ami has recently completed, is her 60-day placement within the community. Ami has enjoyed learning alongside experienced practitioners and being supported by an awesome and empowering team at Oranga Tamariki-Tairāwhiti.
She says she would be keen to work at government level of policy or legislation as she believes “by identifying the gaps within our systems and structures from the frontline, we are able to identify the direct impacts for whānau and influence or improve future policy and legislation”.
Ami, an “independent mama”, who also works part-time within Governance support while she completes her degree, recently received the Te Whatu Ora- Te Pitomata grant in recognition of her commitment and study aspirations to contribute to Māori Health, she says she has no hesitation in recommending EIT as a place to study.
She says without EIT, she wouldn’t have met social work peers from both Tairāwhiti and Taradale, who are all equally driven, purposeful and strong-minded students. However, it is the unwavering support from her parents and children that keep her grounded in pursuing and gaining a degree with EIT.
EIT Social Work Lecturer and Programme Coordinator Charlotte Chisnell says: “Ami’s commitment to understanding and influencing policy and legislation, especially for Māori communities, aligns perfectly with the core values of EIT. Her experiences in law, health, and horticulture enrich her perspective and contribute significantly to her studies and future career in social work.”
“Ami’s story is a testament to the importance of education and community support. We look forward to seeing Ami continue her journey.”
