Waiariki continues commitment to biculturalism

Waiariki Institute of Technology

Media Release

29 January 2010

Waiariki continues commitment to biculturalism with launch of wānanga

Te Wānanga a Ihenga, Māori Development, Humanities and Research is a merger of Waiariki’s former Māori directorate and the School of Māori Development and Humanities. Led by Deputy Chief Executive Māori, Keith Ikin, the wānanga will not only develop and deliver Māori development and humanities qualifications, but also support projects, foundation learning and research across all six Waiariki schools.

Te Wānanga a Ihenga Māori Development, Humanities and Research will officially open its doors Tuesday, February 2, 2010.

Waiariki’s commitment to biculturalism is holistic, focusing on internal practises and forging relationships with external groups and organisations that support the institute’s vision.

“The merger will strengthen Waiariki’s commitment to biculturalism and it will provide further support to the establishment of relationships Waiariki is developing with iwi,” said Keith Ikin, Deputy Chief Executive Māori at Waiariki.

A key focus of the wānanga will be to support the establishment of the Te Arawa Wānanga (to be centred around Tangatarua marae on Waiariki’s Mokoia Campus), the partnership in Turangi with Te Whare Aronui o Tuwharetoa, and potentially create relationships with other iwi within the Waiariki region.

The wānanga houses many courses making up parts of important Waiariki qualifications including Māori studies and the new Bachelor of Māori Development, the Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Social Work) and additional social science qualifications, and teaching qualifications such as the Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education).

The merging of the two Waiariki departments will create a seamless business unit that makes sense for all involved, with two departments whose aims complement the other’s, and with a community that will surely benefit from the deal.

-ENDS-

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