Sharing Ma¯ori knowledge in Sth Canterbury context
New professional development business Kia Tika te Ara (Correcting the Pathway) focuses on all things Ma¯ ori to improve understanding of the language and culture in order to build good relationships.
Richie Waa (Nga¯puhi, Nga¯ti Pu¯ kenga) known for his eight years as an alternative education manager in South Canterbury, and wife Naresha, a Ma¯ ori medium teacher, have recently established the company which offers tailored Ma¯ori professional development programmes.
Also available are sessions on te reo Ma¯ori, pronunciation, equity model, Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) and critical consciousness among others.
Mentorship and consultation has been undertaken with key members of the Arowhenua kaumatua (elders) and the Arowhenua Ru¯ nanga executive, Waa said.
The aim is for organisations and individuals to develop relationships and knowledge of te ao Ma¯ori (Ma¯ ori world).
Waa said there were not a lot of professional development options for tikanga and te reo in South Canterbury.
‘‘We want to offer localised information and knowledge to inform and educate.
‘‘The intention of lots of people in the community is to do the right thing but it can be hard to navigate.
‘‘You don’t know what you don’t know.’’
An example of the difference in mindset between Ma¯ ori and Western thinking was how relationships were the most important thing to Ma¯ ori, whereas tasks and outcomes were often the priority for Europeans, he said.
‘‘For Ma¯ ori the key is building trust and relationships. Knowing who we are and placing value on each other,’’ he said.
Naresha Waa, who completed all tertiary studies in te reo Ma¯ ori and facilitated a similar programme to the education sector contracted by Nga¯ i Tahu, said there was a lot of interest from organisations unable to engage. The couple hope to fill the gap with this programme by teaching in the education, social and health sectors. She said these three sectors were the ones statistics showed Ma¯ori had the lowest engagement in.
It was initiated by people in the community wanting to engage with the Te Ahu o te Reo programme, a programme to develop teacher competency in te reo Ma¯ori, Naresha Waa said.
‘‘That was the initiator for the programme. Ma¯ ori culture is really starting to be upheld in media and government but there is not a lot on offer here.’’
She said similar programmes were run in larger centres around the country.
Kia tika te ara includes content on this area to increase understanding of local history and protocols.
All content will also be delivered by local facilitators.
‘‘We are not offering the programmes at university level but entry level.
‘‘Our heart is to feed forward and
‘‘For Ma¯ori the key is building trust and relationships.’’ Richie Waa
Kia Tika te Ara present change within the community. It is not about us, it is about the goal of engaging and empowering the community to bring understanding,’’ Naresha Waa said.
The South Canterbury District Health Board is considering offering cultural competency training to all its staff and is in discussions with Kia Tika te Ara to deliver it.
A board spokesperson said while Ma¯ori culture was part of staff members’ general training, Kia Tika te Ara focused on local iwi and their history which was of particular interest to those working in the district.
In the SCDHB February meeting minutes it is stated how the understanding did not meet the needs of Ma¯ ori patients and their wha¯ nau, and training in this area would empower them.
So far the new business owners have eight contracts under negotiation and hope to have a business launch on Friday for representatives of interested businesses and organisations.