Course syllabus
Te Akoranga Kairangi
Te Akoranga Kairangi : An Introduction to Māori language, culture and history
Outline
The programme provides basic competency in te reo and tikanga, and increased knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi. The focus is on how these contribute to our richer participation in a bi-cultural nation and in New Zealand workplaces, in particular the workplaces of the participants.
This is a structured but relaxed journey with two expert guides, one Māori and one Pākehā. Participants have a unique opportunity to safely explore in a group their insights into the Treaty and te ao Māori (‘the Maori world’), what these mean to their relationship with ‘things Māori’, and to develop competencies for professional work in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The programme is suited to all non-Māori staff – from those born in New Zealand to new immigrants – who are keen to get a solid introductory grounding in Māori language and culture, and the Treaty, and to think about their own relationship to these.
Relevant research papers are made available for discussion, and handouts are used to structure basic language learning.
Learning outcomes:
We expect that at the end of this introductory programme each participant will
- be able to pronounce Māori words correctly and with confidence
- be able to say a short mihi (greeting) appropriate to the occasion
- be able to recite a simple pepeha (self-introduction)
- better understand the tikanga (‘cultural rules’) of pōwhiri and hui
- have a stronger sense of their own identity in the New Zealand context
- be familiar with key aspects of the history of Māori-Pākehā relations from 1769, including the 1835 Declaration of Independence and the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti
- have a greater understanding of their own engagement with biculturalism
- develop insight into opportunities for personal and professional practice, and institutional change
Practical details
Duration: 8 weeks
Weekly meetings: one 2-hour workshop a week
Format: the first hour of each workshop focuses on language pronunciation and basic tikanga; the second hour on the Treaty in history, the period before the Treaty, the relevance of the Treaty to our own workplaces today.
Class size: 15 people maximum
Attendance: commitment to full attendance is required
Homework: about 1-2 hours homework a week minimum
Indicative Curriculum
Although we have a list of outcomes (see above), both the curriculum content and level are flexible, and responsive to the needs and interests of participants.
Hour One: Mihi whakatau. Introductions. Expectations.
Hour Two: The work context and the University’s Treaty policy statements. Discussion: “Maori are not an equity group in the University. Why not?” Role of non-Māori in relation to institutional policies on the Treaty.
Hour One: The Māori alphabet, macrons, syllables, and vowel pronunciation practice.
Hour Two: Māori-Pākehā relations: 1769-1835
Hour One: Tikanga of pōwhiri and hui. Syllable practice.
Hour Two: He Whakaputanga 1835. The significance of the Declaration of Independence.
Hour One: Tikanga of pōwhiri and hui (contd.) Word pronunciation practice, combining vowels.
Hour Two: Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi: what is it? What are the different interpretations? How is it officially understood today? Maori and western ontologies, and the idea of ‘two worlds’.
Hour One: Pepeha – developing and learning your self-introduction. Pronunciation practice.
Hour Two: New thinking about Pākehā (or non-Māori) and pepeha.
Hour One: Mihi – developing and practicing simple greetings. Pronunciation practice.
Hour Two: The Māori-Pākehā or indigenous-settler hyphen: relationships in practice. What is ‘cultural safety’? Do you want to 'dial a pōwhiri'?
Hour One: practice your mihi and pepeha
Hour Two: Different ontologies / world views. Complexities in Māori-Pākehā /non-Māori relationships in workplaces. What is kaupapa Māori?
Hour One: showcase your language learning
Hour Two: Responding to/in your workplace.
Course summary:
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