7th December 2000
Sexual Health Group Supports Compulsory Sex Education In Schools
Te Puawai Tapu whole-heartedly supports the government’s plan to make sex education compulsory in schools. The Education
Minister, Trevor Mallard has confirmed the government will be pushing new laws through Parliament before Christmas to
make sex education compulsory in all public schools. The Tumuwhakahaere of Te Puawai Tapu, Pania Ellison welcomes the
government’s response to the sexual and reproductive health crisis facing Maaori.
While New Zealanders have the second highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the developed world and high rates of STIs
(sexually transmitted infections) Maaori rates are worse. Pania says “We hear people talking about the growing number of
teenagers having sex in their early teens and how terrible it is, well many of those kids are Maaori. Maaori are almost
five times more likely to have a baby than non-Maaori teenagers. If the government is serious about “Closing The Gaps”
between Maaori and non-Maaori it should make Maaori sexual and reproductive health a national priority.”
Te Puawai Tapu’s convenor, Irihapeti Ramsden says there’s also an urgent need for a national strategy on Maaori sexual
and reproductive health. “The government is currently developing a national strategy on sexual and reproductive health
but it must recognise the critical need for Maaori to have a separate strategy.”
Medical Advisor for Te Puawai Tapu, Dr. Papaarangi Reid says any strategy must meet Maaori needs and be real. “A range
of approaches are required if you going to acheive this. But the greatest priority is to provide a safe place for young
people to have an informed and informative discussion about sexual and reproductive health. Sexual and reproductive
health has been in danger of being taken over by romantics who either want to romanticise or “religi-cise” one of life’s
basic functions.”
Te Puawai Tapu is a national Maaori health organisation committed to improving the sexual and reproductive health of
Maaori. It advocates for policy change at a national level and it runs sexuality education programmes in the community
which are aimed at Maaori youth.
Te Puawai Tapu’s celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this Friday (8th December at 5.30pm) and opening a new seminar room
to accomodate the growing demand for Te Puawai Tapu’s sexuality education programmes. Associate Health and Associate
Maaori Affairs Minister, Tariana Turia will be the key note speaker.
For more information and to arrange media interviews, please contact Sandi Barr.
PH: 04 386 2634, FX: 04 386 2648, EM: ktprincess@xtra.co.nz