E kore au e ngaro, he kākano i ruia mai i a Rangiātea.
The hui ā-tau is our yearly gathering that fills many capability gaps regarding mātauranga Māori in both organisations and the staff who represent them. Although professional development from hui ā-tau is sometimes not overtly obvious, for some Māori (and non-Māori) information professionals who seldom have contact with tangata whenua, the hui are a breath of fresh air.
This year our hui ā-tau at Te Wānanga o Raukawa was no different. Te Wānanga o Raukawa is the tuakana (or oldest) of the Wānanga in Aotearoa New Zealand. Its place within the revitalisation of Māori language, customs and practices are solidified with the successful fully implemented 25 year strategy “Whakatipuranga Rua Mano – Generation 2000“. Te Wānanga o Raukawa was set up in 1981 with only a couple of students, one of whom was our facilitator, Huia Winiata.
Huia Winiata, the son of Whakarangi Winiata who articulated Whakatipuranga Rua Mano, done a beautiful job as facilitator, weaving Te Rōpū Whakahau core values and the hui themes through eloquently delivered aphorisms. Versed in te Reo Māori and tikanga Māori, Huia epitimised one of the crucial outcomes noted in Whakatipuranga Rua Mano which was to build the te reo capacity amongst the local iwi.
He Kura te Tangata was the theme of our hui.
Let us start with the kōrero on the theme. These words were spoken by Kiripuai of Ngāti Koata to her son Whareaia. ‘He kura te tangata mō te rangatira pai, atawhai i te iwi, whakahaere pai i te iwi e kitea an ate ara o te iwi, me te pai i runga i te whakahaere o taua rangatira.’
This theme hints at leadership and the attributes of leadership.
This theme and the words also show another meaning or interpretation. Students of Te Reo Māori will note that Māori were adept at exploiting puns, and the double entendre, and the word kura is a homonym. Kura is another word for the colour red, and to imply a person was ‘red’ was to acknowledge a chiefly status.
Our hui focused on leadership and the attributes of leadership. This was explored in four daily subthemes:
- Manaakitanga – having a genuine concern for the welfare and progression of those you lead
- Amorangitanga – inspiring and motivating people to achieve.
- Mōhiotanga – Having skills, experience and know how.
- Rangatiratanga – displaying leadership, self-determination – all according to Māori values.
For more feedback and thoughts, you can check out Donald Gregory’s truncated synopsis below.
Te Ropu Whakahau hui a tau 2018 Donald Gregory
