Congratulations

Janelle Wilson (Ngāi Tahu – Ngāti Tūrākatahi, Ngāti Tūteahuka; Te Whakatōhea) recently graduated from Massey University in Palmerston North with a graduate diploma in primary teaching. Janelle, who affiliates to Waihao Marae through Jane Harpur and Arthur Gibbs to Pakinui and William Harpur, also gained a degree in Māori Visual Arts in 2012.

She plans to do her masters at Palmerston North next year. In the meantime she is relief teaching at an early childhood centre and continuing with her own art practice. In July she took part in an exhibition of paintings by New Zealand artists at the City Library in Melbourne, which was curated by her whanaunga, Brent Harpur (Ngāi Tahu), who has lived in Australia for the last five years. Janelle hopes to become a fulltime artist in the future and would also like to teach and facilitate art with rangatahi and those with mental illness.

Right; Janelle Wilson with one of her university tutors, Israel Birch.

Right; Janelle Wilson with one of her university tutors, Israel Birch.

One of Janelle’s paintings in the Melboune exhibition.

One of Janelle’s paintings in the Melboune exhibition.

Congratulations also to Rebecca Crotty Jones, who graduated from Auckland University with a Bachelor of Engineering (honours). Rebecca’s specialty was chemical and material engineering. She is now working for Lion in Dunedin, as a member of the project team rebuilding Speights Brewery.

Rebecca is grateful for the Ngāi Tahu funding she received during her studies.

Rebecca Crotty Jones at her graduation.

Rebecca Crotty Jones at her graduation.