Speaker: Pātaka Moore - Tē Wānanga O Raukawa
Richard May introduced Pātaka, saying he had no idea such a large institution dedicated to the preservation of te reo and te Ao Māori was right on our doorstep. A wide range of undergraduate degrees and diplomas, as well as post-graduate qualifications are taught by 200 staff.
Pātaka Moore (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Pareraukawa) has a background in resource and environmental planning and Māori resource development. He is an author and expert in oral history, and lectures at te Wānanga. Nathan, Pātaka's cousin, helps all students to research and learn about their iwi and hapu.
Pātaka told us the story of their illustrious uncle, Whatarangi Winiata (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whatarangi_Winiata), who was a recipient of a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship in 1961 (the first Māori recipient). He spent 16 years overseas, becoming highly educated.
On his return, Winiata was concerned about the disconnection of his people from their culture and heritage, and the loss of te reo: no one in the area under 30 spoke te reo. Winiata and other elders wanted to ensure te reo survived and Māori prospered.
Te Wānanga grew out of a 25 year plan, Whakatupuranga Rua Mano - Generation 2000 - developed by the Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toa Rangatira (ART) Confederation. The strategy was built on 4 principles:
- people are our wealth
- te reo is a taonga
- the marae is our principal home
- self-determination
The young were to be linked with the old people to download their knowledge and preserve it.
In 1981 from humble beginnings in the old Ōtaki Māori Boys' College building with 2 students (the sons of Whatarangi Winiata), the smallest university in the world grew. The government of the day would not recognise te Wānanga and so it started with no seed funding. Volunteers tutored and many still do today, giving their time willingly. Crown funding finally came, and today there are 6,967 learners, 92% studying part time and 74% female. The average age of students is 39.5 years.
The campus now has modern facilities and many fine buildings, built along sustainable principles. The surrounding iwi-held land has been intensively farmed for dairy production, harming the waterways. The farms have now been retired and plans are shaping up to develop the land in the best interests of Te Wānanga, local iwi and the environment.
We were all impressed and inspired by the achievements of all involved. What a marvellous story of collaboration, vision and strategy to build what might at first have seemed impossible.
President Vic presented Pātaka with $250 from the Sunshine Fund for a student who can make good use of it.
Glossary:
Te Wānanga: a centre of higher learning, a university
taonga: a treasure
te reo: the language, Māori
te Ao Māori : the Māori world, world view
iwi: tribe
hapu: sub-tribe
whānau: family (extended)
Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toa Rangatira: local iwi
Why do we use macrons (the little - above some vowels)? It shows it is pronounced as a long vowel -
ā means say 'aah' like far, not a short 'a' like apple.
