Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
12 minutes ago
Four years ago, Ami Hokianga set out to complete her Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at EIT Tairāwhiti as a commitment to herself, her tamariki, and her future.
This week, she will fulfil that commitment, graduating with honours and taking the stage as this year’s Valedictorian.
EIT Tairāwhiti valedictorian Ami Hokianga will graduate with a Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at the War Memorial Theatre in Gisborne on March 20.
She will be among a cohort of students at the graduation ceremony at the War Memorial Theatre in Gisborne on Friday (March 20).
Ami (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi) says being named Valedictorian came as a surprise.
“I honestly thought they had confused me with someone else. It didn’t even cross my mind that I would be considered. I was just excited to finally graduate.”
“My interest in social work was shaped by lived and personal experiences navigating the family court and justice systems. It made me want to better understand how systems and policy decisions affect whānau.”
After a number of years working across the legal, health and horticultural sectors, Ami says studying at EIT Tairāwhiti meant she could grow professionally while still staying close to her whānau and serving the region. “It was also about proving to myself that anything is possible.”
“EIT Tairāwhiti gave me the opportunity to connect academic learning with practical experience, building my confidence while keeping me grounded in the realities of the communities and whānau closest to me.”
During her degree, Ami completed two placements: one at Oranga Tamariki and the other at Tairāwhiti Hospital. The latter, she says, highlighted both the complexity of the profession and the importance of strong advocacy.
“Social work is not practised in perfect conditions and in placement, I saw firsthand the strength required to navigate complex systems. When whānau voices were unheard, social workers carried them forward.”
It also reshaped how she understands the profession and the respect it deserves.
“I don’t just see social workers. I see practitioners. It takes four years of commitment, and we graduate as registered professionals. That recognition matters.”
Ami hopes to build on her experience in governance and Māori health, using her social work qualification and frontline insight to contribute to stronger policy, practice, and decision-making that better reflects the realities of whānau and communities across Aotearoa.
She has no hesitation recommending EIT Tairāwhiti to others, saying it offers students the opportunity to pursue tertiary study close to home in a grounded and supportive environment.
“With strong student support, great peers, and flexible degree and qualification pathways, EIT helps students build their futures close to home.”
Ami is grateful for the friendships she formed with fellow social work students in Tairāwhiti, particularly Natalya Williams and Nathanael Elliott, who began the degree with her.
“There were seasons of uncertainty, but through them we became certain of our own capability.”
She also received a study grant from her grandfather’s iwi on her mother’s side, Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, affirming that her journey was supported by whakapapa and whānau beyond Tairāwhiti.
At the heart of her journey were her close friends, parents, and tamariki, whose love, support, and unwavering belief carried her to this moment.
“This honour belongs to them as much as it does to me.”
Tairāwhiti Campus Executive Director Tracey Tangihaere says: “Ami was a dedicated student who balanced parental responsibilities, work and academic studies”.
“Ami supported her fellow students along the way with maturity. Ami was selected because she displayed empathy for others and she was a passionate learner. Congratulations to all our graduates.”