More learning te reo
EIT’s Regional Learning Centre in Waipukurau is experiencing a huge interest in te reo Ma¯ ori classes.
“We are excited to have so many students,” says Sandra Fleming, coordinator for Central Hawke’s Bay.
“We have 55 registered students for our Level 2 and 25 enrolled on our Level 5, both being tutored by Ahuriri Houkamau.”
This is the first time EIT Waipukurau has offered te reo Ma¯ ori at Diploma Level 5 and the uptake has been outstanding.
Fifteen students are completing basic te reo Ma¯ ori focused on pronunciation through the ACE (Adult Community Education) programme. This has then allowed previous students to move on to higher levels.
“It has been noted at all levels, that many of our current students are local teachers who have taken the initiative to learn te reo Ma¯ ori and to take their new found knowledge and confidence into the classroom,” says Sandra.
With these numbers, EIT Waipukurau follows a positive regional trend. EIT Hawke’s Bay in Taradale is running 20 te reo Ma¯ ori, of which night classes are in particularly high demand.
Sandra puts the huge interest down to the fact today most Kiwis want to understand more about the culture of Ma¯ ori. “We have a lot of students who have Ma¯ ori children and grandchildren and so they want to be able to improve their pronunciation of our Ma¯ ori words.”