Empowering Māori Learners: Advocating for Success Through Te Reo Māori and Student Voice

1. Te Reo TauiraLearning from Learners – Solving for Success Ivy J. Harper Te Mana Ākonga

2. Presentation Outline

3. Tauira One • “I will come out of university with a huge student debt, probably live overseas for a while because I can find a job and one that pays better and will eventually come home. These people dis me and my culture and yet I am expected to support them in their retirement.” • A young Māori Learner from a Kura commenting on the Baby Boomer Generation.

4. Tauira Two “I want to learn te reo Māori so that I can speak to my tamariki and mokopuna.” • A mature student at a Wānanga with 3 tamariki at home and re-entering the education arena .

5. Shared Values and Goals • We want the best educational success and outcomes for tauira Māori • Student voice is fundamentally important throughout the education system

6. Current Situation • Student Debt • Racism • Lack of information, guidance annd support in terms of pathways • Lack of belief in tauira Māori and their abilities • Absence of tauira Māori experiences, values and culture in programmes and curriculum

7. Situation Grows Worse • National - Education Achievement disparity, VSM Environment, Growing Student Debt, Mismatched Employment • Regional - Chch Reconstruction, Auckland Super City, Urban Māori • Sector - Capped funding, performance linked funding (institutions), lack of learner representation at governance level • Population - Rate of Māori growth, younger Māori population

8. Responses To Changing Environment • National - Need for a Māori Learner voice (TEC, Student Job Search, Ako Aotearoa, NZMC, MWWL, NZUSA etc) • Regional – Ensuring good relationships between whanau/hapū/iwi, institutions, industry and Māori learners. • Sector - Specific targets for institutions where Māori learners are concerned. • Population - Meeting demographic demands.

9. Who is involved when policy is developed?

10. The Situation is getting harder • Student support changes • Growing student debt • Growing student fees • Growing student voice?

11. Te Mana Ākonga • Who we are and where have we come from?

12. Te Mana Ākonga Values and Founding Principles “Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a text in the context of whanau, hapū and iwi realities. The Treaty of Waitangi is a text in the context of colonisation.” Moana Jackson Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou

13. Te Mana Ākonga Key Objectives • Safeguard the wellbeing of Māori Learners • Promote Māori development and sustainment of Maori language, culture and customs through education • Supporting learner aspirations and therefore whanau, hapū and iwi aspirations • Advocate, promote and motivate change to ensure te reo Māori and tikanga Māori are more relevant to the sector

14. Te Mana Ākonga – Our Value and Contribution • National Voice • Fairer treatment of Māori students • More responsive and supportive institutions • Access and equity in higher level courses • A Learner voice at all levels of the institution

15. The Language of Policy Development Legislation Legislation Autonomy Autonomy

16. Tiriti o Waitangi Tiriti o Waitangi Tauira Tauira

17. Student Voice = Solutions • What TMA and roopu can do • Work with you re teaching and learning quality, student voice and feedback • Helping understand and work with your learners • Ask Tauira what they think

18. Points to Remember • We want the best educational success and outcomes for tauira Māori • Student voice is fundamentally important throughout the education system