STUDYING at Massey University has been a long-standing tradition in Rachael Tinirau's family, starting with her grandfather, Arama Karaka Tinirau.
He returned from serving with the 28th M?ori Battalion in World War 2 and gained a Certificate in Herd Testing from what was the Massey Agricultural College in Palmerston North.
When Mrs
Tinirau (Whanganui, Ng?ti T?wharetoa and Ng?ti Rangi) graduated from the same campus last month with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in M?ori studies and psychology, she shared the moment with her eldest son, Rawiri.
Rawiri, a former Wanganui Collegiate student, graduated with a postgraduate Diploma in Business and Administration and is a lecturer in the Department of Management.
Mrs Tinirau's sister Esther, was until recently a lecturer in te reo at Te P?tahi-?-Toi, the School of M?ori Studies.
Family matters have played a huge part in shaping Mrs Tinirau's academic life.
She decided to resume studies for her degree two years ago following the death of her mother, Regina, who had suffered a stroke in 1995 that left her mute and partly paralysed.
"I became interested in psychology through my life experiences, especially with close family members."
"That spurred my curiosity in learning about the brain, the mind, human behaviour, and their effect on the wh?nau, wider hap? and iwi community."
She was accepted as a bursar of Te Rau Puawai programme, a partnership between the university and the Ministry of Health to assist students seeking university qualifications in the area of M?ori mental health.
For more than a decade Mrs Tinirau worked in IT as an analyst and programmer and said Te Rau Puawai's support system was "invaluable" and helped her cope with the demands of study.
"Three decades have passed since I was last in the world of academia. Te Rau Puawai was a lifeline. Their aroha, support, encouragement and guidance gave me the confidence and skills to take part in class, to do written assignments, tests and exams."
In December last year she received a P?rehuroa Award for M?ori postgraduate students, and was this year accepted into Massey's School of Psychology postgraduate programme.
Last summer Mrs Tinirau was employed by Massey as a project assistant to record the stories and memories of over 50 M?ori elders from R?nana, as part of a joint research project between the R?nana M?ori Committee and Te Au Rangahau (M?ori Business Research Centre) at Massey.
