Ngā Taumatua
In July 2003, eleven Resource Teachers of Māori became the first graduates of Ngā Taumatua training course. In 2004, a further five Resource Teachers of Māori and seven classroom teachers graduated.
The Ministry of Education is funding study leave for a further five Resource Teachers of Māori and 7 classroom teachers during 2005 to participate in a one year training programme in Māori medium specific literacy initiatives, known as Ngā Taumatua.
The name Ngā Taumatua was given by Professor Wharehuia Milroy, formerly of the University of Waikato, well respected elder of Ngai Tūhoe and advisor to Kia Ata Mai Educational Trust. The term Ngā Taumatua is applied synonymously to the project itself as well as the students participating in the training.
Taumatua is a term used to describe a tree located near water in native bush, where its branches provide shelter to growing seedlings and its fruit provides sustenance for birds. Metaphorically, Ngā Taumatua training programme can be likened to this in that it seeks to nurture the kaupapa of Māori medium education while also providing sustenance (Māori medium specific literacy expertise) to the trainees. Upon returning to their respective positions either as Resource Teachers of Māori or as classroom teachers at the completion of their study, it is envisaged that Ngā Taumatua will become the nurturers for the teachers, the children and their whānau.
Ngā Taumatua training programme is jointly delivered by Cath Rau and Iria Whiu of Kia Ata Mai Educational Trust and Professors Stephen May and Ted Glynn and Richard Hill of the University of Waikato. Specialist tutors are also invited to present workshops at various stages throughout the year. This enables Ngā Taumatua to keep abreast of the latest developments in both fields of literacy and Māori medium education.
The Ngā Taumatua training programme comprises a combination of residential courses in Hamilton (seven of one week duration) as well as fieldwork and study.
The programme has three foci:
- To improve the level of Māori medium literacy amongst Māori medium educationalists
- To undertake Māori medium literacy research
- To inform the development of Māori literacy policy.
Ngā Taumatua trainees are required to complete a total of seven courses specifically designed for Ngā Taumatua programme and provision is made for both non degreed as well as degreed trainees. Successful completion of the four University based courses will result in trainees achieving individual paper credits toward a Bachelor Degree or a Post Graduate Diploma in Language and Literacy (PGDipLangLitEd) depending upon their entry level. The remaining three are linkage courses which will provide the necessary knowledge and experiences to enable trainees to engage fully in their university study. Another feature of the course is that each trainee is provided with a laptop computer to assist them with their study as well as back up technical support. Cath Rau and Iria Whiu periodically visit with trainees in the field to provide onsite assistance with assignments and programme requirements.