Hon Parekura Horomia
24 March 2006 (10.00am pôwhiri) Speech notes
Launch of Tirohia Kimihia –
The first monolingual Mâori learner dictionary
Te Kura Kaupapa Mâori o te Ara Hou, Napier
Mihi
I am delighted to be here at this launch of Tirohia Kimihia. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to be launching
Tirohia Kimihia at Te Kura Kaupapa Mâori o Te Ara Hou.
Today’s launch marks an important event in the history of Mâori education.
Tirohia Kimihia is the first of it’s kind. It is the first ever Mâori monolingual dictionary developed for tamariki,
learning through and with our language.
One of the biggest challenges for educators is to ensure our tamariki have the base to realise their potential.
Tirohia Kimihia goes part of the way to give educators a tool to ensure our tamariki can realise their potential.
This Government believes in celebrating Mâori successes – across:
- education,
- arts and culture, and
- business and sport.
We recognise that strong successful whanau are the foundation of a strong and successful nation.
The next three to five years is critical to the next stage in the positive development of Mâori people, their assets,
resources and enterprise.
Together with Mâori this Government is committed to achieving Mâori success and high performance:
- on the sportsfield and the kapa haka stage,
- in classrooms,
- in boardrooms and businesses,
- in laboratories and research centres, and
- in workplaces across the country.
At last year's Hui Taumata it was made clear that the path for Mâori from dependency to development is through:
- education,
- employment and
- enterprise;
- that Mâori would continue to steer their own economic development;
- and that the primary responsibility for successful Mâori development now lies with Mâori.
Mâori are responding to that challenge, and the declining number of unemployed Mâori demonstrates this commitment. The
statistics reflect an impressive record of achievement by the Government and Mâori over the last six years:
Mâori are high achievers. International survey results, NCEA data and giftedness indicators say so. More Mâori students
can achieve their potential.
- Mâori enrolments in early childhood are increasing steadily.
- More Mâori complete compulsory education and
- a greater proportion Mâori leave school with qualifications.
- In 2002, 65% of Mâori left school with some form of formal attainment but by 2004 this had improved to 75% of Mâori
school leavers.
- Mâori have the highest rate of participation in tertiary education of any ethnic group.
The recent work this government has done in introducing interest free student loans will reduce the financial burden
many Mâori face accessing tertiary education.
There are more Mâori completing degrees and post-graduate qualifications than ever before. This government is determined
to improve the quality and relevance of these qualifications to ensure that graduates are well placed to provide the
foundation of our modern economy.
Together Mâori and the government have confronted the barriers of high unemployment and low educational participation
that have previously constrained Mâori development.
There is more we can do together and must do. Everything we do together now must be measured for the contribution it
makes to the future of Mâori as successful achievers and contributors to their whänau and to the nation.
Tirohia Kimihia has an important part to play in developing our nation.
I would like to acknowledge the combined efforts of the Huia Publishers and the Ministry of Education. Tirohia Kimihia
is the result of close to 10 years of dedication by a small team of people, who at times, had to learn along the way.
Tirohia Kimihia is a legacy to the hard work and dedication of that small team of people.
I have high expectations for the success of our schooling system to equip all tamariki for a demanding future, a future
where you can realise your potential.
I would like to say Thank You to tumuaki Wi Tom Pohatu and his staff. We applaud your effort and hope that Tirohia
Kimihia can add to help you to help tamariki realise their potential.
ENDS