Graduate Profile

Tewaiarani (Melani) Kahi

Foundation Studies GraduateNorman Kirk Memorial Trust Award Recipient

Tewaiarani (Melani) Kahi was the deserving recipient of the Norman Kirk Memorial Trust Award in 2009. This award was established in 1976 to commemorate the Right Honourable Norman Kirk, Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 to 1974, and is given to students who are committed to "second chance" education which will equip them to make a greater contribution to the community.

Melani enrolled in Foundation Studies to get the skills and qualifications she needed to gain entry into the Bachelor of Social Work degree, after spending time as a security officer at James Cook High, where she advised and guided students with problems – something she found she enjoyed and was good at.

The award means she is able to continue her studies in 2010, while her 2 year old daughter attends childcare. This hardworking young woman has great goals:

"My plan is to work on my family first and show them that there are options and choices", says Melani. "I want to start in schools as that is the place where children spend most of their time …. I will be there with the teachers to support and show children that other people care."

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