Two generations of one family study business together
Four members of the Parai family are studying business at Wintec (from left) Ginnae Parai, Tiwai Parai, Kyler-Renee Parai and Arielle Parai.
With six daughters, two sons, 11 grandchildren and a full-time job, it’s a wonder that Tiwai Parai finds time for study.
Yet he does. And he’s been such an inspiration to his family that three of his daughters are now studying alongside him at Wintec.
“Education is the talk around our family dinner table, among other topics, and I hope it will be that way for many generations to come. You could say it’s the start of our family legacy,” says Tiwai.
Tiwai’s eldest daughter Arielle is studying IT and sisters Ginnae and Kyler-Renee are both studying Business.
Ginnae thinks it’s pretty cool to be studying alongside her Dad and sisters.
“Those who know our family know we’re more of a sporty family, so being at Wintec together is a huge accomplishment in itself. I’m proud that we’re all going down the educational route that’s going to benefit ourselves and our own little families,” she says.
Ginnae says it was her Dad that urged her to study once her youngest child started school. Having left school seven years earlier, she wasn’t convinced of her ability but is now loving studying at Wintec.
The family connections don’t stop there. It was encouragement from Tiwai’s niece, who was studying at Wintec at the time, which helped convince him to enrol in Wintec’s Bachelor of Applied Management in 2013.
He’s taking it slowly, doing a few papers each year.
“My main goal is to support my daughters to finish their study. I’m blown away that they recognise the importance of education,” says Tiwai.
He wasn’t always such an advocate for education.
“Growing up I felt like there were lots of barriers that held me back in terms of my education. I slipped through the cracks at school and it wasn’t until I began studying at Wintec that I finally gained a real understanding of how positive education can be,” says Tiwai.
He says he enjoys Wintec’s hands-on approach to studying and all the support and resources available on campus.
Since beginning his educational journey, Tiwai has discovered a real passion for ongoing studies and plans on undertaking more study once he has completed his Bachelor of Applied Management.
Find out more about Wintec’s Centre for Business, Information Technology and Enterprise here.
