Victoria University of Wellington Matariki Dinner
Te Herenga Waka Marae, at the Kelburn Campus
Dr Pita Sharples; Minister of Maori Affairs

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Speaking notes – Check against delivery

The magic of Matariki compelled me to accept this invitation to this glittering occasion in which we consider the stars of today and tomorrow, the Maori graduates, the Maori researchers, the Maori academics, the Maori tutors, the Maori lecturers, the Maori students who we honour tonight.

I want to firstly commend Victoria University for such an inspired event in honouring Maori involvement in the tertiary education sector.

There is no finer way to do that, than in celebrating the new season, the new year.

Matariki is our traditional planting season, the time in which we reflect upon the aspirations and expectations we hold for our future.

It is a time also for remembrance, for reflection, as we think of the pathways walked before us.

I was interested to see in the Alumni section of Victoria University’s website, the file marked “Maori” came up blank – “sorry this page is currently under construction”.

Perhaps an exciting Matariki resolution for someone here tonight, could be to go away and record some of the bright stars who have shone in this fine institution.

I’m thinking of Hirini Moko Mead. It was during his tenure that this marae, Te Herenga Waka was developed, a kohanga reo was estalished and Maori studies became a department in its own right.

There’s Pou Temara, a renowned expert in whaikorero, haka and moteatea, who was a senior lecturer here; Sir Paul Reeves, the first and only Maori Governor-General of Aotearoa was educated here; Dr Ngahuia Te Awekotuku whom has been described as a veteran cultural activist was formerly Professor of Māori Studies; there’s Professor Whatarangi Winiata – President of the Maori Party – is an Emeritus Professor of this institution; there’s Professor Kathy Irwin – and so the list grows.

Indeed, if we think of Matariki as the time to rejuvenate and reenergise, there is an abundance of enthusiasm within the distinguished alumni of this institution to start us off.

And of course we remember those who have left us – legends such as the charismatic John Rangihau who fought with the 28th Maori Battalion; went on to complete a diploma in social science here, and then went on to create such masterpieces as Puao-te-Atatu which advanced a completely new approach to meeting Maori needs, within the former Department of Social Welfare.

We remember too, the loved ones of the whanau who have attended Victoria, who will not see Matariki rise again. Those tupuna who have believed that their mokopuna were entitled to succeed as an integral part of New Zealand’s social, cultural and economic wellbeing. Those kuia and koroua who would say to their grandchildren, ‘you must get letters after your name’.

In my case, the pathway that I would eventually travel was shaped by the encouragement and the insights of mentors such as Pokiha of Te Arawa, Taitoko of Whanganui, Pei Te Hurinui Jones, Ruka Broughton, Hemi Henare, Pita Awatere, Brownie Puriri, Pat Hopepa, Jimmy Grace and so many more who guided me towards the horizons of educational enlightenment.

These were people who provoked a restlessness, they create a hunger for the pursuit of knowledge, they reminded me of the importance of staying true to myself, to upholding discipline and focus.

They showed me how to put down a hangi; they taught me how to study; they looked after our kids; they nurtured in me a desire to speak te reo rangatira, to be proud to be Maori.

And so through all of their challenges and supported, eventually I qualified with my PhD in anthropology and linguistics.

But I left University, qualified for life; a life transformed by the world of knowledge; eager to follow new research lines of inquiry; passionate about the opportunity for matauranga Maori to advance scholarship across the disciplines.

We have a whakatauaki which epitomizes this journey
He ao te rangi ka uhi, he kai te whare wananga ka toroa

As the clouds deck the heavens, so food prolongs the wananga. A very appropriate thought to be having on this grey, rainy Wellington day!

In essence it means, the food of knowledge extends to extended sessions of the whare wananga, the house of learning.
The more we know, the more we know there is to know!

Tonight then, at this special Matariki wananga, let us look forwards at where we are heading; based on the secure footing of the progress we have made to date.

Victoria has been a leader. Te Herenga Waka was one of the first campus-based marae, and formal capping ceremonies that wove together the strong traditions of academia and Maori have allowed whanau to participate in the success of their graduates, and take ownership of the university in a ground-breaking way.

The university has prioritised Maori success in its planning documents, and through building long-term relationships with key Maori stakeholders.

But we shouldn’t just rest on our laurels and think all is well.
One of the reasons I wanted to share some of my story, is because if you like, it is about being real.

Being real is remembering my childhood in Takapau – being poor, sleeping in coats wrapped against the cold, but having the richness of experiences such as eeling down the creek or playing with our cousins in the shearing sheds. From there I went to Te Aute, and through the leadership of the principal, Richard Guy Webb, started to see the university could be a pathway to success that this young man from Takapau could take.

I am honoured and grateful to have had a university education. I wear the title ‘Dr’ Sharples with pride, not because I can cure all ailments, or because I have a remedy for every malaise, but because it reminds me, every day, that I have seen value in education, a value which I want to promote from the rooftops.

There are many young men, just like me, that worry me today.

Why is it, that in 2007, only 63% of young Maori men; and 67% of young Maori women, left school with at least NCEA Level one?

Yet for Pakeha, the rate was over twenty percentage points higher – 83% of young Pakeha men and 89% of young Pakeha girls left school with similar qualifications.

Not surprisingly then, Maori students have the lowest rate of progression from school to tertiary education of any ethnic group.

That is our first challenge.

Success at school is the strongest predictor of success after the first year of university; and success in the first year is the strongest predictor of continuing at university, passing courses, and completing a degree. So the dice are loaded.

This imbalance has to be righted. Universities have a role to play, but I think this might require a radical rethink of what education is and how it takes place.

Once young Maori get here, there is nothing that should stop Victoria University from playing an important part in increasing Maori success at higher levels of study.

Maori participation in tertiary education is higher than for any other ethnic group – and that is something to celebrate.

But – and it’s a big qualifier – much of this participation is at levels one to three on the National Qualifications Framework. All of us know the benefits of a bachelor level qualification – the second challenge, therefore, must be how to boost participation for Maori to higher levels of study.

Thirdly, I want to suggest a quantum leap could be achieved, if Victoria were to consider the following:

- Open entry for Maori students. We have seen how the dice are loaded against Maori, right through the school system. That is not any reflection on the academic potential of our young people. Reserved places for Maori have proven the ability of Maori students to rise to the challenge if they are given the opportunity.

- Mentoring and support for Maori, that teaches the culture of academic learning to Maori students. For many the difficulty is not the course content, but the style of teaching, assessment and examination.

- Recognition of the validity of kaupapa Maori, as equally valid and appropriate for education as academic tradition, to Maori students who are entering the 21st century.

Education is as much about the journey, as it is about the goal.

The fundamental values of kaupapa Maori education play a vital part in a vision of education which builds enduring relationships with iwi, which embraces and cares for Maori students; and which is prepared to be brave and step beyond conventional teaching and learning approaches.

Such values as Manaakitanga, Kotahitanga, Whanaungatanga , Rangatiratanga and Wairuatanga provide a solid foundation for any learning situation. They made our tipuna enthusiastic advocates for education, they provided a structure and framework for exploring new ideas and retaining knowledge.

These values prepared our people well for the radical changes in their lives that followed colonisation, and they stand us in good stead as we recover our status as competent, creative and confident teachers and learners.

Our graduates tonight are part of that recovery. Over ten years from 1997, working-aged Maori with a bachelor’s degree or higher rose from 2% to 7.1% - fantastic! But that compares with 17.6% who identified as Pakeha so we have some way to go.

I believe these figures reflect the success of kaupapa Maori education in raising super-confident learners who have taken ownership of their world. They also reflect the role of wananga in promoting the whole idea of access to tertiary education, and creating pathways into universities.

Maori have entered tertiary education with enthusiasm, and they have demonstrated that they do best when they take their kaupapa Maori with them. That places a reciprocal responsibility on academic institutions to do your level best to support Maori knowledge and development as a strength right across the campus – and that includes Maori as students and staff.

This night has been about celebrating Maori academic achievement of the past year. So I specially want to congratulate the graduates among us; their whanau, who make them what they are; and the staff, who have guided and moulded their intellectual development over the years. And now it is time for these graduates to learn from their success and to go out and enhance the greater knowledge of our nation, through their contribution to natural phenomena, society, culture and technology.

In the spirit of Matariki, I want to leave just one special announcement with you, from this boy from Takapau.

Two weeks ago, the chairman of Ngati Kahungunu iwi, Ngahiwi Tomoana, issued a release called, “let Matariki in”. His message was, and I quote, “We should, in fact, go all the way and make Matariki a public holiday. I believe that future generations of New Zealanders will embrace it with gusto”.

I happen to have it on very good authority, that the Maori Party has drafted a Bill to do exactly that. The private members bill, Matariki Maori New Year Bill, proposes legislation to recognize our indigenous origins through a designated national day.

Anything is possible - and that is my message tonight – let us take up every opportunity to create educational pathways that can challenge us, that can lead us forward, and allow us to reach for the stars.

ENDS

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