Here turi kōkā 2003

• Secondary schools update
• National Certificate Māori (level 4) – Te Ngutu Awa – Pilot
• Tourism Māori qualification development
• Māori Regional Tourism Organisation Conference

Secondary schools update

Recently secondary schools have had the opportunity to get an overview of what Māori Qualifications Services (MQS) does and what field Māori offers.

MQS Project Officers Tania Saggers and Leon Hawea have been running meetings for secondary school staff in consultation with principals. They have presented an overview of resources, unit standards and qualifications available as well as what is being developed.

The focus of the meetings has been to inform teachers about field Māori qualifications, in particular the relationship between the National Certificate M ?ori – Te Waharoa (level 2) and NCEA. It has also been an excellent opportunity to explore other pathways within field Māori.

A highlight has been helping teachers become more aware of the opportunities for packaging qualifications according to the need of their communities, and within their school's accreditation.

To date Tania and Leon have held meetings in Auckland, Hastings and Wellington and the feedback has been "absolutely positive". They hope to have other regional meetings, based on demand, from schools in Te Tairawhiti, Hamilton, and the South Island. The meetings are of no cost to those who attend. According to Tania and Leon: "be prepared to have excited and well informed staff returning to school".

If your school is interested in attending these meetings or for further information please contact Tania Saggers or Leon Hawea. You can also talk to your School Relationship Manager about what's available in field M ?ori.

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The Māori battalion, in Whakato Road in Manutuke

National Certificate M ?ori (level 4) – Te Ngutu Awa – Pilot

This pilot project is well underway with the full support of a range of education providers: Te Kura Motuhake o te Ataarangi (Wairoa), Tairawhiti Polytechnic, Lytton High School and Turanga Ararau (Gisborne).

As a result of running the pilot, sample packages of programmes will be produced to demonstrate what can work in practice.

Students participating in the pilot are currently achieving unit standards towards this qualification and others such as NCEA, National Certificate in Māori Performing Arts and National Certificate in Te Reo M ?ori.

The qualification has been designed to be as flexible and non prescriptive as possible to allow providers to cater to the students' individual needs. Te Ngutu Awa is the progression qualification from Te Waharoa.

The providers have a great working relationship with each other and are all community orientated, providing positiveness in an area that is otherwise known for its unemployment and high seasonal field work.

The support of Liz and Graeme Hunkin of Te Kura Motuhake o te Ataarangi, Walter Tamepo of Lytton High School, Sharon Maynard of Turanga Ararau and Anne McGuire of Tairawhiti Polytechnic has been an absolute bonus. All are held in high regards in the region, and are totally supportive of kaupapa Māori and this project.

A graduation ceremony in early December 2003 will make history as the first students in Aotearoa are awarded the National Certificate M ?ori – Te Ngutu Awa (level 4).

Tourism Māori qualification development

The National Certificate Tourism M ?ori (level 3) and National Certificate Tourism Māori (level 4) are undergoing a quality assurance check within NZQA. The National Diploma Tourism M ?ori (level 5) is in its final drafting, and being prepared for quality assurance checks.

Twenty five unit standards in the subfield Tourism Māori were revised and rolled over and have been registered on the NQF, with an expiry date of 31 December 2005.

These unit standards make up a majority of the compulsory sections in the two national certificates and the national diploma. The new expiry date now coincides with the review date of the qualifications as well.

Providers interested in extending their accreditation scope to offer these qualifications should contact either their:

• Regional facilitator (for Māori PTEs)
• School Relationship Manager (for secondary schools).

Young Nicks Head (Te Kuri a Paoa), a prominent landmark of the Te Tairawhiti district

M ?ori Regional Tourism Organisation Conference

MQS Project Officer Tania Saggers facilitated workshops at the Māori Regional Tourism Organisation Conference, co-ordinated by Owen Ormsby, in Auckland in August.

The Hon Dover Samuels and Hon John Tamihere supported the event that attracted tourism operators, small to medium sized business enterprises and tertiary providers. Other workshops included Poutama Trust, Tourism New Zealand, Creative NZ, Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation and Community Employment Group.

Tania comments: "It was an opportunity for an exclusive interface with key stakeholders who were in attendance at the hui. There is certainly some keen interest in the development of the qualifications as currently there are no qualifications that emphasise the uniqueness of tourism M ?ori in Aotearoa."