Krystle Nikora (Rongowhakata, Tūhoe, Ruapani, Ngāti Kahungungu) was raised within te ao Māori and her mother was fluent in te reo Māori, but her passion for the culture and te reo blossomed only when she enrolled at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Her learning journey began in 2019 as a tauira of He Pī Ka Pao Level 1 & 2. Now in 2025 she is a dedicated kaiako, teaching He Pī Ka Rere Level 3 & 4 at the Heretaunga campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

“I love my job, the classes feel like one big party. My role allows me to immerse myself in te reo Māori and my experience as a tauira helps me to better understand the needs of my tauira,” says Krystle.

Enrolling as a tauira was a daunting experience for Krystle, however, with encouragement from her kaiako she gained the confidence to take the first steps to commit to the programme.

From there she progressed through to Te Aupikitanga ki te Reo Kairangi Level 6, where her skills and dedication stood out.

Her talent was recognised by kaiako Denise Keelan who recommended she apply for a kaiāwhina role and in 2021 she secured the position and later transitioned to becoming a kaiako.

As Krystle reflects on her full circle journey, she highlights how grateful she is to be an integral part of the whānau at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa making an impact in the classroom as a kaiako.

She hopes to see others succeed in their reo Māori studies and her advice to aspiring kaiako is heartfelt, sharing her tohu, “you are good enough. Do it in your own way and be great at it.”

This year Krystle’s dedication to her kaiako role was on display as she walked across the stage to graduate from He Puāwai - Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching, a programme that allowed her to enhance her teaching skills.

The level 5 programme tested her knowledge and improved her ability to create engaging and effective lesson plans, which she now simplifies to cater to a diverse range of learners.

As a kaiako, Krystle draws inspiration from the whakataukī, ‘ko te ahurei o te tamaiti arahia o tatou mahi – let the uniqueness of the child guide our work.’

Krystle would like her journey at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to serve as a reminder to embrace our own uniqueness and believe that we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.

Find out more about our Education programmes.