Kia eke ki ngā Taumata, kia Pakari ngā Kaiako He ... - Te Puni Kokiri

The third initiative, Te Mana Kōrero, is an information programme with resources to helpteachers focus on quality teaching practices that can better realise Māori potential byengaging Māori students in learning.FarNetFarnet was one of four Digital Opportunities Pilot Projects, aimed at “bridging the digitaldivide” by introducing information and communications technology (ICT) to 10 schools inthe Far North. The FarNet website seeks to overcome professional isolation through itsvirtual staffroom and resource room. Teachers and administrators share locally createdresources and policy documents via a shared learning portal, the FarNet website. Thesite hosts resources and documents in both English and te reo Māori.Kiwi Leadership for PrincipalsThere are three foundation documents for New Zealand school leadership: KiwiLeadership for Principals (published); Māori-medium Leadership (in development) andKiwi Leadership for Middle and Senior Leaders (in development). These provide thevision for leadership in each area of the professional leadership plan. A review of the 34events scheduled in 2009 to support the three overarching frameworks highlights thatonly one is specifically for teachers and principals working in a Māori-mediumenvironment. Likewise in 2008, only one event was focused on a Māori-mediumenvironment.IncentivesMITA AllowanceThis allowance is for teachers employed under the Collective Employment Contract whouse te reo Māori as the language of communication and instruction. To qualify, teachersmust be employed full time and teach using te reo Māori for more than 50% of the time.As at April 2008, there were 1035 teachers receiving the allowance. This is nine morethan in 2007, but 135 (11.5%) less than 2006 when the number of teachers receiving thisallowance was at its highest level. In April 2006 there were 1170 teachers receiving thisallowance.Māori-medium Loan Support SchemeThis scheme is a government initiative to attract and retain teachers in Māori-mediumsettings. Teachers who teach in total immersion settings, in state or integrated schools,are eligible to apply for the loan for at least the first four years after qualifying as a Māorimediumteacher. Teachers who meet the criteria receive $2,500 on completion of theirsecond, third and fourth years of teaching to help reduce their student loan.Professional Development: Career-planning and development tools andservicesThe information in the following section provides a sample of available professionaldevelopment opportunities/resources/tools advertised in commonly used sources ofpromotion for teachers. The data was obtained from the Education Gazette, and on30 | KIA EKE KI NGĀ TAUMATA, KIA PAKARI NGĀ KAIAKO