After almost 40 years of teaching, Matua Wairangi Jones is standing down from his role at Rotorua Boys' High School.
But, retirement won't stop him spreading tikanga Maori, he says.
Jones first started teaching in 1979 and has been a principal, assistant principal and teacher in his time.
He hasnow retired from Rotorua Boys' High School, due to health concerns, where he ran the Maori department and was the school kaumatua for nine years.
Matua Wairangi Jones is retiring from school teaching after almost 40 years, nine of those at Rotorua Boys' High. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
Jones said the focus of his teaching career had been around lifting Maori achievement in mainstream schools by teaching te ao Maori, te reo and tikanga.
He said he wanted students to be proud to be Maori.
"In every aspect of my teaching career I've worked really hard to raise te reo and to find a place for tikanga because I believe that's the key for students."
Wairangi Jones worked at boys' high for nine years. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Jones said the students were a highlight across his teaching career, and everyday was "a day of inspiration".
"Rotorua Boys' High School is an excellent example of the quality of the students that I've had in front of me," he said.
"My students have taught me too. The field I'm stepping out into now is the result of all those experiences.
"Every experience I've had has been a strong stepping stone for me in terms of promoting te reo, tikanga and developing as a person."
Jones said he also enjoyed other teachers.
"In terms of affirming te ao Maori in students, Chris [Grinter, boys' high principal] would be the only non-Maori principal I've worked with so strongly behind te ao Maori and that's a rarity," Jones said.
"The other thing has been the change in perspective and perceptions ... When I started te reo was virtually nonexistent."
Matua Wairangi Jones (right) with Rotorua Boys' High School principal Chris Grinter. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
He said students in his classes, of all nationalities and backgrounds, picked up what he taught, making him wonder why rest of New Zealand had not embraced Maori as readily as his students.
So now Jones is on a mission.
"In the time I've got left I'm going to be taking te reo Maori and tikanga to work places around New Zealand. Showing them how they can use te reo and tikanga to enhance their own business practices," he said.
"What I'm doing now has been formed here. I'm now going out, still teaching and carrying te reo and tikanga, but to other places and to ears that need to be opened and eyes that need to see."
"I began that journey to dive deep into my Te Arawa side, and I'm still swimming."
Grinter said Jones had been a wonderful teacher.
"He has been a huge source of knowledge, support and guidance for myself and indeed all staff in terms of Te Ao Maori.
"Fortunately Wairangi and his wife will continue to live locally so he will always be one of our kaumatua and that softens the loss for us as a school and I suspect for the wider community as well."
