Go Hearty for passion, pride
Kia ora koutou, it’s almost unbelievable to think that we are in March already, with lots going on in the South. Some of you may be aware that I am an educator. It’s a pleasure and privilege to work with our rangatahi (young people). They are so full of positivity and enthusiasm it’s a joy to be part of their lives.
It was a privilege to attend Te Matatini – the equivalent of the World Cup of Kapa Haka – in Poneke/Wellington in February.
The group I travelled with was from a local college. They had worked hard and fundraised for a year to attend this spectacular. We had the opportunity to attend the powhiri (welcome) and listen to the oratory skills of many who spoke of issues such as concerns about the environment and wellbeing.
The following day we attended the start of the competition.
The first group that was given the special role of opening Te Matatini was the Ratana group who celebrate their centenary this year. It was an amazing performance complete with brass instruments for which Ratana are renowned.
I became quite emotional seeing the pride the group had. Why aren’t we celebrating who we are as New Zealanders like this all the time?
The stripping away of language and culture has resulted in our tangata whenua being overly represented in negative statistics such as early deaths, poor educational outcomes and other health statistics.
It’s vital that you know who you are and where you are from.
The pride shown by the performers, supporters and everyone involved was huge.
The entire event was so much more than a kapa haka competition. It was an opportunity to celebrate what it means to be our tangata whenua, in an authentic context with an entirely holistic approach.
In a past column I wrote about Sir Mason Durie’s concept of Te Whare Tapa Wha¯ . Te Whare Tapa Wha¯ is a holistic model of health and wellbeing for Ma¯ ori which I believe applies to all people. It involves four areas:
Taha hinengaro – mental and emotional wellbeing.
Taha tinana – physical wellbeing.
Taha wairua – spiritual wellbeing.
Taha wha¯ nau – social wellbeing.
Te Matatini was an illustration of the power of Te Whare Tapa Wha¯ .
It appears that concepts such as manaakitanga (simply put, it’s hospitality, but it is much more than that) and whanaungtanga (a sense of belonging) are being used in a wider concept than that of just a Ma¯ ori one.
It’s great to identify the need for the inclusion of these ideas within an organisation but it cannot just be a tick box. It must be real and authentic.
Our hikoi-journey to Poneke/Wellington was so much more than a school trip. We had the opportunity to watch the practice of Te Pou o Mangatawhiri, the Tainui group formed by Te Puea Herangi in 1921,who were placed fourth in the competition.
Seeing this group perform up close and personal had a profound affect on all our rangatahi and the adults. The passion and pride was palpable. Whanaungtanga reigned supreme. As one of our young one said: ‘‘It’s like Go hearty or go home!’’.
So Southlanders/ Murihikians – 2019 is the year of Go Hearty! Let’s all work together in all things and do this.
The upcoming reform of vocational education announced by Education Minister Chris Hipkins aims to respond to issues facing the tertiary vocational education sector – but will it actually result in improvement? Some of the changes seem to risk throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater by undermining the things that are actually working well – and will have big ramifications for Southland.
For example, Hipkins is proposing to replace Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) with the newly acronymed Industry Skill Bodies (ISBs), which will apparently set standards for – but not deliver any – training.
He is also proposing to merge all institutions of technology and polytechnics (ITPs) – so that includes the Southern Institute of Technology – into a single, centralised organisation. At the same time responsibility for administering various centralised functions of the single entity will be divvied up across the regional sites.
Currently 11 ITOs deliver training to more than 46,000 apprentices and 100,000 industry trainees around the country. Much of their training is delivered in the workplace at relatively low capital cost.
Under the proposed changes, these courses would all be delivered by the newly centralised, single entity national institute – acronym pending – although the standards for those courses would be set by ISBs.
Like many of the Coalition Government’s initiatives, these and other sector changes are to be rushed through the legislative process and their implementation fast-tracked so as to be in effect January 1 2020.
Yet again it’s clear the government is intent on implementing an ideologically-based vision of centralisation while allowing scant opportunity for consultation with those groups most affected – namely students, apprentices, industry and business groups as well as current providers.
To be clear, no one is saying the status quo should remain.
Employers all agree that – generally speaking – vocational education could be better geared towards industry needs. There is also a clear need for structural reform of the ITP and Private Training Establishments (PTE) sector to ensure greater consistency in educational quality and outcomes and reduce duplication.
But do these issues require the drastic restructuring Hipkins is proposing?
The Minister should be confident that his solution will actually deliver an improved vocational training sector that responds to the changing needs of our