Single mum determined to be a teacher

LEARNING TOGETHER: Patience Te Moananui-Grant loves having her son, Taimana, close by while she studies. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 160514BF1

While the latest Census figures show Rotorua has a higher percentage of single parents than the national average, students at Rotorua's School for Young Parents say it's not the end of the world.

According to data released by Statistics New Zealand, 24.3 per cent of families in Rotorua are one parent with children families, while the national average is 17.8 per cent.

Single mum Patience Te Moananui-Grant had her son Taimana, 17 months, when she was 17. She said going back to school had given her a second chance.

"I had nothing and needed to provide for my son. To do that, I needed to get an education so I could get a good job.

"Being a teenage single mum is not the end of the world. Sure, it can be hard some times but I have ambitions and love being a mother."

Miss Te Moananui-Grant said she had broken a family cycle by going back to finish high school.

"There are women in my family who also had babies and now they do nothing. I didn't want to be like that so I came here and it's been the best thing for me.

"I might be raising my son as a single parent but I won't let that stop me getting an education, I'm going to be a super-mum."

Miss Te Moananui-Grant said she wanted to do primary school or early childhood teaching.

"It's my dream. You have to work hard to get what you want, you can't expect it to be given to you and I want to succeed for my son."