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7.9 The Last Word<br />

Early childhood teachers appear disappo<strong>in</strong>ted at the seem<strong>in</strong>gly low and<br />

apparently tokenistic level of implementation of the Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> aspects of Te<br />

Whāriki. This sentiment is also expressed <strong>in</strong> the literature (Ritchie & Rau, 2006b).<br />

However, Aotearoa New Zealand has had 170 years to implement and honour Te<br />

Tiriti o Waitangi and <strong>early</strong> childhood education has had a mere 17 years to achieve<br />

progress towards biculturalism s<strong>in</strong>ce the draft of Te Whāriki was published. I<br />

believe that <strong>early</strong> childhood centres have achieved extraord<strong>in</strong>ary well thus far. Let<br />

us, therefore, celebrate those many <strong>early</strong> childhood teachers who have consistently<br />

shown courage and strength <strong>in</strong> order to become participants <strong>in</strong> the first education<br />

sectors that has <strong>in</strong>tentionally <strong>in</strong>corporated Tiriti-<strong>based</strong> <strong>curriculum</strong>. Their strength<br />

produced the first national bicultural vision for <strong>early</strong> childhood education which<br />

rema<strong>in</strong>s embodied <strong>in</strong> Te Whāriki. I f<strong>in</strong>ish by quot<strong>in</strong>g the draft of Te Whāriki<br />

(M<strong>in</strong>istry of Education, 1993) where it all began. When implement<strong>in</strong>g Tiriti-<strong>based</strong><br />

<strong>curriculum</strong> it is important to have a:<br />

Celebration of the journey: The pathways are paved with respect and<br />

commitment. The community celebrates the advantages for all of us<br />

work<strong>in</strong>g at the <strong>in</strong>terface of two worlds. All share <strong>in</strong> celebrat<strong>in</strong>g successes<br />

and achievements. (M<strong>in</strong>istry of Education, 2004a, p. 6)<br />

263

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