Applied Practice in Context - Activity 4

(The Māori language and its principles/customs).Discuss how issues of ethics, society, culture and professional environments (including law, regulations and policy) are being addressed while you are taking action (activity 4)

We strive to be respectful of all cultures and value each contribution made to make all participants feel included. To practice learning TRM in a safe environment we are to ensure that the program is a non-judgemental forum. We envision giving each person a voice and a place to stand with TRM.

Ethical/Cultural issues to consider when teaching our Te reo Māori program;

Dialet difference between us and the learner -

To address this issue, start our program by outlining which iwi we are from and what dialects we use. We would also ask which iwi they are from and if there are interested in learning iwi specific knowledge, where we would then send relevant resources and information on how to help the various whānau do so (Tamati, 2011). - New Questionnaire

Non-Māori wanting to learn from our program -

I think inviting in the community that are wanting to attain Te reo Māori would come, whether they are descendants of Māori heritage or not. To address this i would explain openly(before the program starts and on the Facebook group page - Porowhita Kaka) that the program is not made to make someone better than someone else but to help connect more individuals within our community using Te reo Māori as the foundation (University of Canterbury, 2019).

Selection process of applicants to the program (Favoritism/Geneology/Iwi) -

First in first serve basis, until we are further support and/or funded to take on more whānau and students. If an instance happened where multiple people/whānau applied at the same time and we could only accommodate for one of them, we would draw lottery and proceed from there. As this program is not looking to create an entire schooling entity, but rather to create a sustainable Māori community, we would accept anyone that is willing and avid to commit to Te reo Māori me ōna tikanga (The Māori language and its principles/customs).

Societys' issues to consider when teaching our Te reo Māori program;

The acceptance of Te reo Māori being spoken in the community -

Currently, there is still a reluctance or a sense of shame around being Māori and not being able to speak Te reo Māori. The big issue is the level of encouragement and amount of programs/useful resources available to the community, hence the establishment of this Te reo Māori program. To address this problem, we are looking to create a bank of resources that can be openly available to whānau and eventually extended whānau and friends that are looking to 'give Te reo Māori a go' (Tamati, 2011). But for now, the exchange of information/links and resources is through our Facebook page - Porowhita Kaka.

English(Non-Māori) speakers frustration with not being able to understand TRM -

NZ History (2017) reiterates that in 2013 there were around only 125,000 speakers of Māori in New Zealand BUT the population of New Zealand in 2013 was over 4 million people even though it was the first official language of New Zealand. To address this nation wide problem, we would evetually look to extend our invite to anyone that is willing and avid to commit to Te reo Māori me ōna tikanga (The Māori language and itsprinciples/customs) (Tamati, 2011).

Professional issues to consider when teaching our Te reo Māori program;

Age limit of Facebook(without parent or guardian permissions) -

To address this we would request that the whānau/guardian/household leader to ensure their household are using Facebook appropriately and in the event that they could not, look to provide physical/tactical resource packs for whānau.

References;

NZ History. 2017. Te reo Māori recognised as official language. Retrieved from https://nzhistory.govt.nz/maori-becomes-an-official-language

Tamati, T. 2011. The Trans-acquisitional Approach: A Bridge to English in Kura Kaupapa Māori. Pacific-Asian Education Journal, 23(1), 91 - 102. Retrieved from http://programs.crdg.hawaii.edu/pcc/PAE_23__1__final_11.pdf

University of Canterbury. (2019). What can I do with a degree in Te Reo Māori?. Retrieved from https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/careers/subjects/te-reo-mori/