|
ISSUE 33 April 2000 Previous Issues: ISSUE 31 ISSUE 32 |
|
||||||||||
|
Tikanga and Whenua on the Framework Traditional Māori knowledge about tikanga and whenua are the latest subfields to be registered on the National Qualifications Framework. The registration in November 1999 of 83 Tikanga and 64 Whenua unit standards means that there are now 11 subfields registered in the Māori field. The other subfields are General Education (72 unit standards), Hauora (23) Mana Wahine (15), Performing Arts (25), Nga Mahi a te Rehia - sports (10) and Reo Māori (32). There are also the subfields of Nga Mahi a te Whare Pora - weaving (42), Whakairo (42) and Te Mātauranga Māori me te Whakangunu - adult education and training (17). The chairperson of the group that developed the tikanga unit standards is Professor Wharehui Milroy. He believes the unit standards will appeal to anyone who has a tikanga component in their teaching programme because they provide an objective way of setting a standard, in an area that is very subjective. "Tikanga comes from everyday activity. People develop an understanding and that becomes the norm - that's tikanga." "Māori people still like to keep their sense of having a culture based on tikanga, but we have moved away from our hapu and whanau, and away from the ways of developing that general understanding. The best place to learn is on the marae and from our elders, kuia and koroua, but some people don't have that opportunity. In the interim, the unit standards are a pretty good alternative." The tikanga field has the largest number of unit standards and they range across all levels, from one to eight. The 83 unit standards were registered in three domains - tikanga issues, tikanga practices and tikanga concepts. Professor Milroy believes the unit standards will strengthen the ongoing push for Māori knowledge to be recognised within the mainstream education system. A spokesperson for the Qualifications Authority, Mike Eru, says the registration of the Tikanga unit standards is very significant because it means that the four major cornerstones of the Field Māori are now in place. "Knowledge contained within Tikanga, Reo Māori , Whakairo and Raranga are essential to and underpin all other Māori subjects." It is a thought shared by Niky Harmer who, until recently, headed the Whakaruruhau Whenua. She said the 64 Whenua unit standards reflect the importance that Māori place on taking care of the land. "Māori people are traditionally foodgatherers and they knew it was important to nurture the land. This idea, reflected throughout all of the Whenua unit standards, does not need to conflict with the business of land use and land development, but it has yet to be incorporated into it." The Whenua unit standards are registered at the upper end of the Framework from levels five to eight. They cover three different domains - Te Whakahaere Whenua, Te Whakamahi Whenua and Te Whakamau Whenua. And who will they appeal to? Mrs Harmer is hopeful that it will be to the broad public. "This is the way of the future. Māori must keep up with the modern times and things are changing like the revamping of the Māori language. The development of unit standards for areas of traditional Māori knowledge is part of that movement. But New Zealanders are becoming more multi-cultural and, while it may be purely novelty value at the start, many want to know about Māori culture." It has taken nearly ten years from the first discussions to registration, a point that leaves the chairperson pleased but philosophical. "Good things take time. Lots of work by lots of people have gone into development of these standards but they will be very useful."
Copyright © 2000 New Zealand Qualifications Authority |
|||||||||||
Page updated: 12 December 2002