WestREAP Recognised for MaoriLanguage Initiatives

Media Release

October 15 2010

WestREAP Recognised for MaoriLanguage Initiatives

Hokitika based, WestREAP (Rural Education Activities Programme) has received a Special Commendation for MaoriLanguage development at the MaoriLanguage Awards hosted by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo M~{(!~}ori, the MaoriLanguage Commission.

The Awards were presented last weekend during the Huia Te Reo two day MaoriLanguage Expo held in Rotorua. They recognise creativity and innovation in MaoriLanguage development and MaoriLanguage Week events.

Airini Royal (kaiako at WestREAP~{!/~}s puna reo in Hokitika) and David Stapleton (WestREAP~{!/~}s community networker) travelled to Rotorua to receive the Award. They said it was a huge honour to represent their organization at the Awards and to be part of such an inspiring celebration.

WestREAP is one of thirteen Rural Education Activities Programme providers throughout rural Aotearoa charged with identifying community needs, and delivering programmes, resources and resource people to support those needs. Programmes and services begin at early childhood and continue through to seniors. WestREAP operates in the Westland and Grey districts of Te Tai o Poutini (the West Coast of the South Island).

The West Coast has the lowest percentage of people able to use conversational Te Reo and since the 1990s WestREAP has been working with the local Poutini Ngai Tahu hapu, parents, families, early childhood educators, schools, and adult educators to help fill the gaps in provision of Te Reo education.

The organization was praised by the Commission for its wide ranging support of MaoriLanguage through initiatives such as facilitating the establishment of a Puna Reo (pre-school using Te Reo) at Hokitika, co-ordinating the West Coast Kapa Haka Festival, supplying Te Reo and kapa haka tutors and professional performances in schools, facilitating links between tutors, and liaising with Poutini Ngai Tahu through the representatives of Ngati Waewae and Ngati Mahaki ki Makaawhio on the WestREAP Governance Board. Staff are encouraged to learn and participate in powhiri protocols using Te Reo.

WestREAP received the only Special Commendation awarded in 2010 because of the specialist nature of its work in filling education gaps in a remote region. In announcing the Award the Commission mentioned that Te Tai o Poutini had had entries from schools and community groups at the last four annual Maori Language Awards, and the Special Commendation recognised the consistency of effort shown by WestREAP in Te Reo education.

WestREAP Board chair, Angela Sloane said the organization was very humbled to receive acknowledgement for work in Te Reo education and in receiving the award and having the opportunity to participate in Huia Te Reo, staff are inspired and encouraged to further strengthen partnerships with local Runanga Komite Ako and work to protect the taonga of te reo for the benefit of Te Tai Poutini.

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