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Chapter Seven: Discussion and Conclusion<br />

“I‟m allowed to make mistakes…That is my responsibility” (FG: D,<br />

15/12/08).<br />

7.1 Introduction and General Comments<br />

Research is a challeng<strong>in</strong>g undertak<strong>in</strong>g – a journey that demonstrated to me<br />

that I too was allowed to make mistakes and yet I could still make a contribution. I<br />

began this thesis with the desire to solve the problem of how Tiriti-<strong>based</strong><br />

<strong>curriculum</strong>, as represented <strong>in</strong> Te Whāriki, can be effectively implemented. The<br />

essence of this thesis, though, is that implement<strong>in</strong>g Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong> is more<br />

likely to occur successfully when a developmental, strength-<strong>based</strong> approach is<br />

utilised.<br />

I have concluded that a problem-<strong>based</strong> approach may not the most<br />

effective mechanism to implement<strong>in</strong>g Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong>. Instead, a<br />

successful approach <strong>in</strong>volves action development which is a term I have co<strong>in</strong>ed to<br />

label a blend of appreciative <strong>in</strong>quiry and action research. The crucial po<strong>in</strong>t is that<br />

this methodology builds on exist<strong>in</strong>g strengths.<br />

Inevitably the journey of construct<strong>in</strong>g this thesis has also deepened my<br />

understand<strong>in</strong>g of Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong>. The beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of my adult journey<br />

towards embrac<strong>in</strong>g Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong> began <strong>in</strong> the late 1970s, when I was a<br />

fervent supporter of multiculturalism. Through education, however, my grow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its impact on Māori over successive<br />

generations grew substantially. Part of my emergent understand<strong>in</strong>g was that the<br />

Crown had not honoured its obligation as outl<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> the found<strong>in</strong>g document. This<br />

meant that as a Pākehā, I belonged to the dom<strong>in</strong>ant culture <strong>in</strong> Aotearoa New<br />

Zealand. I recognise the historical abuses of Māori sovereignty by the Crown and<br />

the dom<strong>in</strong>ation of Pākehā ideology, culture and world view. This enabled me to<br />

recognise my obligation to address issues of social justice for tangata whenua. I<br />

could, therefore, use my role as an <strong>early</strong> childhood practitioner and educator, as<br />

well as my research skills to make a small contribution towards change. That has<br />

been and rema<strong>in</strong>s the essence of this thesis as a koha.<br />

Because “teachers are <strong>in</strong> the privileged position of mak<strong>in</strong>g a difference <strong>in</strong><br />

children's understand<strong>in</strong>gs of themselves and others” (Duhn & Craw, 2010, p. 68)<br />

229

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