SHE may be sad at leaving Whitireia Journalism School in Wellington, but one thing Queenie Rikihana won’t miss is the long daily car rides in from her home Otaki.

Queenie Rikihana.

After three years of teaching the certificate of journalism, full of budding student journalists, Queenie (Ngati Toa/Raukawa/Te Ati Awa) will be moving back to the Porirua campus.

“The most rewarding part has been seeing the students go on to the [journalism] diploma,” says Queenie. “The calibre of those who go through to the diploma is high because it’s tough.”

Famous for her trips to Parliament where everyone knew her name, Queenie also had a talent for vox-popping in which she would stretch her arms out like a bear to corner an unsuspecting member of the public.

She joined the journalism teaching staff in 2006.  As chair of the journalism school’s advisory committee she had suggested that if anyone got sick she would help teach the class.

She was finishing her degree in Matauranga Maori and doing a number of things in the Maori community when certificate teacher Brian Joyce had to go to hospital for a double hip operation.

He ended up discovering he had cancer, so Queenie took over the class.

“Going from being a journalist to a journalism teacher is hard. You almost have to be a teacher first,” says Queenie.

As a journalist she worked for the likes of the Listener, but chose to be a mother rather than go to Radio New Zealand or work in mainstream papers in Wellington.

“If there is a regret, it is that I didn’t get enough newsroom experience.”

During her time as the certificate teacher, some of Queenie’s best moments included hearing what students’ favourite web pages were.

“There have been some horror web pages, but I’ve liked getting a glimpse of what students are interested in.”

One thing her students will agree on is the tight-knit group that Queenie moulds under her presence.

“We seem to eat a lot in my classes – it’s a Maori thing. We become like a family then.

“I think everyone I’ve ever taught I will always be connected with. I want them to know that.”

She concedes she has been unsuccessful with some students, but part of this is due to their punctuality problems, and she does not go around collecting them like she used to.

Queenie will now work with Te Kupenga Maori (the Maori department of Whitireia), headed by Willis Katene.

“We haven’t sorted out what I will do, but it will be Treaty-related – which I am passionate about. I will teach students and staff from other courses and likely be running the inductions.”

In March, Queenie will be going to the United Kingdom where her daughter is having a baby.