Balancing whānau and study for the love of accounting
Image: Maari Moke (left) and fellow graduate Nima Riini, celebrate achieving a Bachelor of Applied Management at Wintec's marae graduation this year.
Maari Moke cut a striking figure at Wintec’s Te Kōpū Mānia o Kirikiriroa marae graduation in March, standing proud in her korowai and surrounded by her whānau who had supported her education journey.
They included her three-month old son who was born not long after Maari completed her Bachelor of Applied Management (Accounting NZICA).
Somewhat serendipitously, Maari received an invitation to speak at Wintec’s marae graduation as she was leaving the birthing centre with her newborn baby.
“Graduating is so overwhelming and being asked to speak at graduation on behalf on my fellow students was an honour. To receive a tohu that expresses your hard work and ups and downs throughout the journey is huge,” says Maari, who is of Tainui, Maniapoto and Tuhoe descent.
Study is never without its challenges and Maari says that falling pregnant while in the last year of her degree, was indeed difficult.
“I have a four-year-old son as well as my baby so I came into studying as a mum and knew finding balance would always be a challenge. Being pregnant and studying was really tough! It forced me to be more strategic about my priorities as ‘my time’ had to be shared between myself, my son and my husband as well as studying and other life responsibilities,” says Maari.
“Over the duration of the course, I found a true passion and love for accounting and it was that love that helped me finish the course.”
As part of her degree, Maari completed an impressive Māori research project exploring how accounting firms can build trusted relationships with Māori businesses, organisations and trusts.
In addition to researching current literature, Maari conducted interviews with Māori trustees, business owners and employees to explore their whakaaro (thoughts and ideas) around their decision making process in choosing an accountant.
“My conclusions and recommendations were specific to the requirements of a particular accounting firm but the beauty of the research is that it enables all accounting firms to learn more about expectations from a Māori perspective,” says Maari.
Following her research project, Maari worked at Fonterra on a short-term contract and was then offered a job at KPMG. Unable to take up the role immediately due to the birth of her son, Maari says KPMG has been incredibly supportive and held the position open for her. Once she is ready to return to the workforce Maari is excited about taking up a graduate position in KPMG’s private enterprise department.
Interested in studying for a career in accounting? Wintec’s business qualifications start from certificate to post-graduate degree level.
Find out more about Māori achievement at Wintec.
