Stepping out of my comfort zone . . . Helen Kinsey-Wightman
Whilst my Te Reo me o ngā tikanga Māori journey began morning and late night waka drills, makes me certain that the with the birth of my son Manu in 2010, my 1 year sabbatical at reason Māori students underachieve in NZ education is more Te Wānanga o Raukawa in 2020 marked a shift in perspective about school systems and teaching than their ability to learn. on what a Māori world view might be like. My journey since When it came to the final marae stay in the lead up to then is leading me to understand that, just participating in the waka flotilla at as there is no common view of the world Waitangi, I suggested it would be better if within my British culture, there are many I helped in the kitchen. My friend smiled rich perspectives, viewpoints and kaupapa and said I should wait until I had been to appreciate within Te Ao Māori. out on the water. Given the ability of the Since moving to Te Tai Tokerau I have ringawera|cooks to feed 200 hungry people challenged myself to say yes to every over 4 days and nights at Waitangi I would opportunity that has been offered to extend have been even more out of my depth in my understanding and experiences. I have the kitchen! been kaikaranga for my kura, I have stood Over Waitangi, I stood as part of the to speak as whaikōrero at a colleague’s crew to welcome visiting politicians to pōwhiri and this week as tangata whenua Waitangi Marae and was kaihoe on the at my own kura. In the lead up to most waka Kahakura. The kotahitanga|unity of these important occasions, I have as we rowed together up to Haruru Falls experienced significant self doubt and and the exhiliration of passing under the had to work hard to ensure I live up to the Waitangi bridge and gathering with 8 trust placed in me by the rangitahi Māori other waka for karakia on the beach on within my kura. the morning of Waitangi Day will stay with Last year, I was offered the opportunity me forever. to attend a wānanga|seminar about Māori Stepping out of my comfort zone takes waka by a friend who has been a Pākehā many different forms and it often means Picture by Rawhitiroa Photography kaihoe|rower for many years. Since I didn’t tackling some uncomfortable truths. I learn to swim until my mid 20’s I can honestly say it was the took my 12yr old son to Waitangi, since he lives in Tamaki marae stay and the new learning that was the drawcard. She kept Makaurau he had been unable to attend trainings and he knew inviting me and so I accompanied her to waka drill training in it was unlikely he would get a spot on the waka. It was amazing Moerewa. I struggled alongside tamariki and rangitahi who learn to watch him pick up skills in a couple of hours that I am still fast and can combine learning of words and movement for several struggling to master after many training sessions. He stood as hours at a time. Watching intermediate and high school age part of the waka crew for the pōwhiri at Waitangi Marae and rangitahi learning complex haka and mōteatea, steering waka, paddled as a kaihoe as part of the flotilla. While we were there learning history from their kaumātua and working through early he was obviously uncomfortable about engaging with me too
Picture by Timata Rangihaeata Mata'u
We teach people to save lives In a Fun & InteractIve envIronment • FASE “First Aid for the School Environment” – 4Hr Basic First Aid Course for general teaching staff • 1 Day Workplace First Aid – 8hrs for designated First Aiders and office staff • 2 Day Workplace First Aid – for Gateway/Star students. Units – 6400, 6401, 6402 • 2 Day Outdoor First Aid – for staff leading EOTC activities & Outdoor ed. students. Units – 6400 series & 424
nZQa cateGorY one ProvIDer For all aid course information please call email us on admin@first-training.co.nz or call us on 0800 1ST AID or 09 838 2110
much – when I asked why this was, he told me some of the boys had teased him for having a Pākehā Mum. As a result, we talked about the effects of colonisation and how to walk tall in Te Ao Pākehā and Te Ao Māori. In Term 2 of 2023 I will take on the principalship of Ruakākā School, a kura of 350 students south of Whangārei. Having established their first bilingual class in 2013, Te Whānau Harakeke now has 4 classes. In 2023, all 4 classes will become Rumaki Reo|full immersion Te Reo Māori classes. At interview I committed to speaking only Te Reo Māori within those classes. In preparation I have signed up to Te Ahu o Te Reo, a national programme designed for teachers. An evaluation report based on the first pilot delivery concluded, ‘Te Ahu o te Reo Māori is more than a te reo Māori programme. It is an opportunity for teachers to engage and understand a different worldview; to engage in cultural practices, narratives and histories relevant to Aotearoa and to the system that supports the education of all students. The programme has enabled teachers with different skills and knowledge, from different schools, and from different sectors, to come together in a safe place to learn. The programme has challenged, overwhelmed, invigorated and inspired.’ Whilst I have not (yet!) had the opportunity to be part of Te Ara Hou, Māori Achievement Collaboratives (MACs), Hoana Pearson’s words challenging principals to ‘step out of their comfort zones every day’ really resonate with me. We expect our akonga to do this constantly in our classrooms – why wouldn’t we do the same for them?
www.first-training.co.nz
We are changing the course of on-site Oral Healthcare Delivery. By developing robust, long-term partnerships with secondary schools, our commitments go beyond the confines of the dental surgery.
Aside from the oral care benefits that both teaching and non-teaching staff get, we would be happy to create a well-being package catered to your school's needs which may include oral health education sessions, careers experience, sports and academic awards and scholarship programs for students.
NZ Principal | March 2 0 2 3
CONTACT US TO FIND OUT MORE:
Cianelle | cianelle@dentalplanet.co.nz | 0272663079 Alfred | arico@dentalolanet.co.nz | 0274343719
WWW.DENTALPLANET.CO.NZ
Changing not what you teach but how you teach it can be the key to engaging students and growing their potential. Improving Pedagogy can be challenging and until now has been an arduous and time consuming process as schools don’t have systems that capture the schools’ expertise in this area or have easy access to Quick Find Solutions and Research across Pedagogical fields.
Pedagogical Fields available include the following:
SLEUTH™ aims to change this If you would like to know more about SLEUTH™ please contact by surveying and matching either Tony / Andrew or any of the team as they will be more pedagogical capabilities within than happy to provide further details. schools (utilising your staff’s abilities) plus providing a platform Tony Burkin 021 729 008 to work on Pedagogical Focus t.burkin@interlead.co.nz Areas – Access Quick Find Solutions and Access Research across Andrew Ormsby +64 3 420 2800 ext1 12 Pedagogical Fields. a.ormsby@interlead.co.nz
www.interlead.co.nz