The Hon Tariana Turia
Maori Party Co-Leader | MP for Te Tai Hauauru
Sunday 18 December 2011

Turia celebrates Te Wananga o Raukawa

Member of Parliament for Te Tai Hauauru, Tariana Turia, has extended her admiration and congratulations to Te Wananga o Raukawa, for thirty years of leadership, innovation and scholarship in advancing matauranga Maori.

“I have always been tremendously proud of the achievements of Te Wananga o Raukawa.

Long before ‘collaboration’ and ‘integration’ became popular, the ART Confederation (Te Ati Awa, Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Toa) united together to invest in their survival.

“The Wananga was born out of a 25 year tribal vision launched in August 1975, known as Whakatupuranga Rua Mano - Generation 2000.

“The wananga became the prime means of assisting the ART confederation to achieve its educational aspirations by establishing a basis for the sharing of knowledge through teaching and research”.

“Despite apparent disinterest from the Crown - Raukawa Marae Trustees persevered and in 1984 Te Wananga o Raukawa became an incorporated body. Almost a decade later, Te Wananga o Raukawa was officially recognised by the Crown under the Education Amendment Act 1990.

“Charting the story of the development reminds me just how persistent and steadfast the people were towards creating their own tribal centre of higher learning. They were driven then – as they continue to be – by kaupapa tuku iho – the knowledge and the wisdom passed on by our ancestors.

“There is much to learn from their story about how to embed success into the life of a community through education that is meaningful, relevant and reflective of the wisdom and the learning of those who have gone before us”.

“And through their own developments, they have become self-sustaining; creating a vast range of employment opportunities and increasing their economic strength in the process”.

“I congratulate their tumuaki; Mereana Selby; Emeritus Professor Whatarangi Winiata who continues to contribute to the life of the wananga as a Purutanga Mauri – and of course the whanau, hapu and iwi who have dedicated themselves to consolidating and promoting the renaissance of Maori education as it has evolved in Otaki and far beyond”.

ENDS

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