Establishment of Iwi Education Authority Breakthrough
The establishment of an Iwi Education Authority (I.E.A) at Whareroa Marae Tauranga Moana on Wednesday 13th June 2012
marks a significant watershed in our development as a people according to Pem Bird, Chairman Nga Kura-a-Iwi o Aotearoa.
"The notion of a Maori Education Authority has been around for quite some time. The first serious attempt 'The Matawaia
Declaration' twenty five years ago ended in failure, but the idea has never gone away.
"The kaupapa behind a Maori Education Authority of a Maori Voice in education, underpinned by the principle of
self-determination, of doing things for ourselves, in our way and by us has finally been realised."
The Iwi Education Authority has a constituency of a small (23) but rapidly increasing number of Kura-a-Iwi (Tribal
immersion Kura) with their respective iwi, fifteen at present leading it. Some of Aotearoa’s highest achieving Kura are
part of the membership including, Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga, Te Wharekura o Taiatea, Te Kura Kaupapa Motuhake o
Tawhiuau, Te Kura-a-Iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano, Te Kura o Whangaparaoa and Te Kura o Nga Tapuwae amongst others.
The kaupapa of the I.E.A is 'Improving Achievement for our tamariki mokopuna.' "We aim to turn things around for them. We do not accept that they should be a permanent disproportionately large body
of the tail of underachievement. We are up for the challenge posed by the government and their goal of 85% of all our 18
year old learners including Maori learners achieving an 85% success rate in terms of the qualification benchmark NCEA
level 2 by the end of 2016, with an eye to performance in our own Kura as an initial focus.
"The fact that only 47% of 18 year old Maori learners achieved NCEA level 2 last year indicates the enormity of their
plight and the enormousness of the task ahead of all of us. We are however optimistic about our new and exciting 'Te
Tihi o Angitu' initiative which is about 'Creating a Culture of Excellence' in our Kura as a vehicle for taking us
forward.
"We also want to work in a constructive and collaborative manner with all professional teacher organisations and the
unions on a united front to begin to work on making the difference that counts for our learners.
"As part of our Tihi o Angitu theme we intend to hold a wananga on Excellence in Teaching with excellent teachers,
excellent principals, excellent boards of trustees to see what it is that makes them excellent. And if we can do that we
will then try and get these excellent people to take charge and grow excellence for all of us.
"Another idea we will be exploring is convening a National Hui to construct and design a strategic plan on Improving
Achievement for Maori. If we’re to get anywhere at all we absolutely need to work with the motu (nation).
"We’re absolutely thrilled and excited about the possibilities before us now that we have finally cracked the big one
and got an Iwi Education Authority up and running," remarked Te Arawa leader and well known educationist of the mid 80s
and 90s, Toby Curtis. "We have the potential to be a truly transformational agent of positive change if we as iwi make
the learning of our tamariki mokopuna a sustained number one priority focus for us from now on hence my excitement about
an Iwi Education Authority!"
Mr Curtis was one of a number of prominent iwi leaders present at Wednesday’s meeting. Others at the meeting included
Selwyn Parata of Ngati Porou, Hauata Palmer and Kihi Ngatai of Ngai Te Rangi, Iria Whiu of Ngati Ranginui, Bill Maxwell
and Muriwai Jones of Ngai Tai, who with other iwi are an integral part of I.E.A.
Interim Iwi members were appointed to the Executive Committee, Te Kahui Reo Taketake from Mataatua, Te Arawa, Ngai Tai,
Tuwharetoa, along with the Chairman of the professional body of Nga Kura-a-Iwi o Aotearoa, Pem Bird of Ngati Manawa.
Other regions including Tainui, Hauraki, Maniapoto, Tamaki, Te Tai Tokerau, Ngati Raukawa and Poneke where Kura-a-Iwi
are located, will be appointing their members in time for the first official meeting of the new tribal entity on
Wednesday July 4th in Rotorua.
ENDS