Bridging Two Worlds
Te Tūhono i ngā Ao e Rua
“Would I say this to my kuia?”
This case focuses on the challenges that kaupapa Māori can present within professional practice and in particular within professional discussions between younger and older colleagues. The participants and commentators are all female, but the questions and discussions could apply just as much to situations involving older and younger male colleagues.
The case has much to offer those working outside of Māori-medium settings, as reflected in this invitation from one of the participants: “Here is another way, one that is good for the Māori world and that also benefits the Pākehā world. Look, come on, sit with me, this is what we Māori have to offer, and perhaps you will see there are benefits for Pākehā too.”
Case participants
Ripeka Lessels
Ripeka Lessels is a resource teacher: Māori in the Waiariki region.
Wini Emery
Wini Emery is an adviser: Māori at the University of Waikato.
Heeni McClunie
Heeni McClunie is a resource teacher: Māori in the Tauranga region.
Leeana Herewini
Leeana Herewini is an adviser: Māori at the University of Waikato.
Dee Reid
Dee Reid is an adviser: Māori at the University of Waikato.
Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai
Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai is a researcher at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Background
Leeana is an experienced adviser and has had leadership responsibilities in Māori-medium pāngarau education for more than five years. Part of her role involves visiting and supporting facilitators within Te Poutama Tau; sometimes this includes observing a facilitator at work and providing feedback on specific areas that have been agreed prior to the observation.
On this occasion, Wini had invited Leeana to observe a teachers’ workshop that she was conducting and that was also being recorded on audiotape. They had agreed that they would discuss the recording transcript and Leeana’s notes from the observation a week later.
Commentators
Kaa Williams
Kaa Williams is a senior lecturer at Te Wānanga Takiura o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori and part-time lecturer in Māori papers for The University of Waikato, The University of Auckland, and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
John Loughran
Professor John Loughran is based at Monash University in Melbourne. He has a particular interest in the importance of reflective practice within teachers’ and teacher educators’ learning.
Leading ISTE learning for this case
How this case reflects the ISTE inquiry and knowledge-building cycle
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