Matauranga Strategy - Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated

Profile of Mäori education in Ngäti Kahungunu
Report to the Ministry of Education
4 November 2002
Introduction
Ngäti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated (NKII) agreed to prepare a summary document on the status
of Mäori in education in the Ngäti Kahungunu rohe. The main aim of this report is to provide
base line data as a basis for consultation with stakeholders, to guide the initial direction for
an iwi education strategy and to seek possible intitative/partnerships in education.
The report purposively avoids a deficit approach to an analysis of the statistical data. This
means that comparisons between Mäori and non-Mäori that characterise the reduction of
disparities or closing gaps are not emphasised. Instead the priority in this report is very much
on a development approach, on comparisons between Mäori and between Taiwhenua in an
attempt not only to identify the needs but also to promote opportunities for change and for
creating alternative pathways as Mäori or as Ngäti Kahungunu.
This is the first time that an attempt has been made to profile Mäori education in Ngäti
Kahungunu. It is by no means complete. On the contrary, there are many areas that need
further investigation and closer reporting. Such investigations will need to be undertaken in
order to provide a more complete picture, the area of tertiary education is one example.
The writing of this report would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions
of the two Pouwhakataki Meagan Joe and Häwea Tomoana who were largely responsible for
gathering the statistical data. We were also supported in our efforts by Christine Teariki who
provided historical information relating to NKII, the Taiwhenua and other Ngäti Kahungunu
institutions. We wish to thank the Ministry of Education for their support in producing the
information for this report.
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