Paenga whāwhā 2003

• Te Ngutu Awa
• Customary fishing qualification under development
• Catering for the ringawera
• Finance standards reviewed
• New criteria for field Māori qualifications
  

Te Ngutu Awa

The National Certificate in Māori (level 4) - Te Ngutu Awa has just been registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). A number of tertiary providers have been eagerly awaiting its registration because it recognises a broad range and depth of Māori skills and knowledge.

Educationalist Harata Day says the idea of Te Ngutu Awa is that it flows on from Te Waharoa - the National Certificate in Māori (level 2). Like Te Waharoa, the level 4 qualification allows learners and providers to combine a range of field Māori with other NQF credits to achieve a general certificate in field Māori.

Harata says the Whakaruruhau thought Te Ngutu Awa was a particularly appropriate name and progressed well from the concept of Te Waharoa.

"The area called Te Ngutu Awa represents the place on a traditional pā where the exchange of dialogue begins. It is the next step after entering the gateway - Te Waharoa. In terms of a learner, the National Certificate in Māori (level 4) marks a time when ideas and information are starting to flow between the teacher and the pupil."

You can view the requirements for Te Ngutu Awa - the National Certificate in Māori (level 4) here.

Te Ngutu Awa graduates will have mastered a greater depth of Māori skills and knowledge than Te Waharoa graduates.

Customary fishing qualification under development

A group of experts in Māori customary fishing met in Wellington last month to discuss the development of a national qualification in customary fishing.

Whakaruruhau chair of Seafood Māori Ben Potaka says this development has been a long-held dream of many leaders in this area.

"There are already ten unit standards on customary Māori fishing sitting on the National Qualifications Framework. What we need to do is to package those existing unit standards and develop any new ones we need so we've got an excellent qualification to offer iwi, hapū and marae."

The level 3 or 4 national qualification will probably include a mix of unit standards around fisheries legislation, environmental management practices and customary knowledge and skills. Ben says people who already practise customary fishing practices could be awarded credits based on their existing skills and study towards gaining the other credits required for the qualification.

NZQA is working with the Seafood Industry Training Organisation (SITO) and recognized Māori experts in this area such as Rakiihia Tau from Ngāi Tahu and Waitai Petera from Te Tai Tokerau.

Contact Manager, Maori Qualifications Services for further information or SITO's Kaitakawaenga Māori, Ngāhiwi Apanui.

Ben Potaka, Barbara Johnsen (General Manager SITO) and Waitai Petera (Te Tai Tokerau) at the advisory meeting in Wellington, March 2003.

Catering for the ringawera

Marae representatives from around the country met with the Māori Qualifications Services and the Hospitality Standards Institute in Hamilton last month to discuss the development of marae catering qualifications.

The Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI) initiated the hui. Maori make up around 40 per cent of their industry. Spokesperson Alison Battley says marae catering requires a special skill set that has yet to earn formal recognition.

"Marae catering is a unique part of New Zealand's cooking and hospitality history. A lot of processes aren't dissimilar from other industry processes but there is a different cultural perspective that needs to be acknowledged."

HSI has left it up to marae committee and the Whakaruruhau to develop any qualifications in this area. Alison says the industry training organisation wants to support this development by offering any technical support and resources it has available.

An interim Whakaruruhau has been formed primarily from the 12 marae representatives and a traditional kai caterer that attended this hui. Representatives from Te Wai Pounamu to Te Tai Tokerau are seeking the full endorsement of marae local committees before developing some specific unit standards and a national qualification in this area.

If you are interested in this development, please contact Owen Ormsby of the Māori Tourism Development Board on 027 292 4192.

Ngāi Tahu caterers at the opening of the new wharenui Tahupōtiki in Bluff, February 2003

Finance standards reviewed

A panel of Māori experts have reviewed and suggested some amendments to the Finance Māori standards (levels 4-7) in Gisborne earlier this year. The Finance Māori standards are an important component of the Māori Business and Management qualifications.

The group included Anne McGuire from Tairāwhiti Polytechnic, Judy Hapur from Huria Development in Tauraunga, Puti Crawford from Trilateral Training in Auckland, Tama Brown from Te Runanga o Tūranganui a Kiwa and Royce Maynard from Coates Accounting in Gisborne.

Project Officer Tania Saggers says the recommendations will make the Finance Māori standards more accessible and achievable. "I think the content of those standards has been improved." The standards will undergo a quality assurance check within NZQA before being re-registered on the National Qualifications Framework.

You can view the current Finance Māori standards via the NZQA website. If you want to find out more about the Māori Business and Management qualifications contact Tania Saggers.

MQS Project Officer Tania Saggers and Anne McGuire who participated in the Finance review.

New criteria for field Māori qualifications

Māori Qualifications Services has set criteria for the development of new unit standards and qualifications in field Māori. The criteria has been developed with advice from Whakaruruhau.

MQS Business Adviser Sharmaine Nolan says the unit wants to take a more rigorous approach to developing new standards and qualifications. "We want to make sure that we are meeting the needs and aspirations of iwi and Māori."

If you want to know more about the criteria, contact Sharmaine Nolan.