Dr Jones aimed her research towards the betterment of M膩ori communities, as well as M膩ori achieving and thriving as M膩ori.
鈥淚t was encouraging to do research on this topic that I鈥檓 passionate about. While I was researching M膩ori medium education, I found that everything was interwoven. There were many connections within my life as well; from teaching, to being on the board for听, and my own children鈥檚 educational experiences.鈥澨
鈥淢y research involved listening to stories of teachers who have worked in puna reo, which are early childhood settings and primary classrooms that focus on learning te reo M膩ori and tikanga. There were a range of different wero (challenges) identified in the stories, but ultimately the love the kaiako have for their tamariki and wh膩nau was the overriding message.鈥
For Dr Jones, achieving a doctorate is so much more than a personal win. 鈥淢y own kids are one of the biggest motivators, just knowing and understanding their educational experiences is truly valuable to me. And my wh膩nau and ancestors have paved the way for this to be possible, they鈥檝e gone through struggles to keep our language and culture alive. This achievement is a mihi to them, an acknowledgement of the things they鈥檝e done for us.鈥
Dr Jones is proud that this is a pathway for all tamariki M膩ori and others. 鈥淚t is hard and takes time and effort, but it is for anybody. If our rangatahi M膩ori and others have aspirations to follow this path, then hopefully I can help that,鈥 she says.
鈥淚 just want students to know they鈥檙e not in this alone, that wh膩nau can back them right from the outset to the end. Don鈥檛 give up too early. Seek the tautoko support you need. I would have never thought I could get a doctorate at high school, but it鈥檚 a journey we can do.鈥
Dr Jones acknowledges her doctoral supervisors who demonstrated aroha and ongoing tautoko on her doctoral journey 鈥淗e mihi mutunga kore ki a Professor Letitia Fickel r膩ua ko Associate Professor Sonja Macfarlane鈥.
Now, in her work as a UC academic, Dr Jones is continuing her focus on the new听Ako | Bachelor of Teaching and Learning degree, which offers a qualification founded in M膩tauranga M膩ori.
鈥淲e鈥檝e introduced a pathway that provides opportunities for trainee teachers to increase their competency and confidence to k艒rero [speak] M膩ori and to teach in te reo M膩ori, as well as embedding tikanga M膩ori and M膩tauranga M膩ori throughout their practice,鈥 she says.
鈥淭he students are so awesome, and we鈥檙e striving to create a pathway where they can see a future in education and they can learn while working and supporting their wh膩nau.鈥
