Māori librarians aim to reach more te reo learners

Media release

09 May 2017

Māori librarians aim to reach more te reo learners

The National Māori Librarians Association, Te Rōpū Whakahau, is exploring how library services can be enhanced to appeal to more Māori who are learning te reo.

Meeting in Rotorua for a three-day hui-ā-tau (Tuesday 9 May – Thursday 11 May), the association is looking at how libraries can better meet the needs of these Māori learners through partnership and bicultural practices.

This week’s hui-ā-tau is being hosted by Rotorua Library Tangatarua Marae, at Toi Ohomai with the theme Hangaia tō Whare Kōrero – Creating Your House of Knowledge.

Haki Tahana, the lead organiser and Rotorua Library’s Mātanga Māori Kaitiaki Pukapuka, says the forum will provoke a wide range of discussion that will focus on how Rotorua District Library’s Māori services work closely with agencies that foster programme content through partnerships.

“We will shine a light on Te Arawa and promote what we as mana (tangata) whenua are doing for the wider community through Te Tatau o Te Arawa and the Rotorua Lakes Council partnership agreement,” he says.

Mr Tahana says the partnership prompted local library staff to analyse how it interacts with Māori communities to ensure services are meeting community needs and expectations.

“Libraries hold a wealth of knowledge including matauranga Māori. But the question is how relevant this literature is to our local communities. From a Te Rōpū Whakahau standpoint, this hui will canvas programmes that develop meaningful engagement in a consistent way and will encourage consideration of strategic partnerships as a means to increase community participation in Māori service delivery,” says Mr Tahana.

A 2012 research paper, Kaupapa Māori in New Zealand public libraries, identified a need for libraries to incorporate biculturalism into library strategies and establish partnerships with iwi and hapū, as well as a need to support staff in training.

“Māori have an entirely different way of seeing the world,” Mr Tahana says. “The concept of kaitiakitanga (Māori guardians of literature and knowledge) is a broad kaupapa with dynamic implications. Initiatives like Ngā Upoko Tukutuku and Mātauranga Māori workshops are a couple of significant steps towards growing Māori speakers. Through tikanga and kawa practices we are constantly reminded of relevancy; adjusting to constant change, developing innovative projects so we are keeping up with the times.”

The hui-ā-tau will include keynote speakers and breakout workshops covering various topics including:

• Setting the platform – Te Arawa Partnership with Arapeta Tahana

• Understanding community needs – Strategic direction with Rotorua Library’s Ani Sharland

• Empowering the community with knowledge – Rotorua Library’s Lois Haddon

• Library literacy skills and Māori identity with Fred Vercoe & Haki Tahana

• Applying Marae construction knowledge with James Rickard

• Fusing professional development and Matauranga Māori

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