Preconference Māori Caucus Symposium - 19th November

Nau mai tauti mai - we looking forward to hosting you at our first post-covid kanohi ki te kanohi hui 

Register now click here.

Our day will start at  9am with the pōwhiri at Te Rūnanga - Te Pūtahi a Toi and  we are excited to bring to you a very full and invigorating programme click here to view:

Kaikōrero Matua Tutatahi: Distinguished Professor Graham Hingangaroa Smith, a prominent Māori educationalist, has been at the forefront of Māori initiatives in the education field and beyond. His recent academic work has centered on developing theoretically informed transformative strategies related to intervening in Māori cultural, political, social, educational and economic crises. Distinguished Professor Smith has made significant contributions to the political, social, economic and cultural advancement of indigenous Māori communities. He has also worked extensively with other indigenous peoples across the world, including Canada, Hawaii, USA mainland, Taiwan, Chile, Australia and the Pacific nations. He was the CEO/ Vice Chancellor of Te Whare Wānanga O Awanuiārangi: Indigenous-University for 8 years and is now Ihorangi at Massey University.

Kaupapa:  The Domestication of the Māori Education Struggle and the Need for Renewal. This presentation critically engages the persistence of high and disproportionate levels of Underdevelopment of Māori within and through Education and Schooling. I argue for a more critically minded approach to assist the renewal of our transformative struggle and to resist the forces of domestication, dominant complicity and assimilation.

Kaikōrero Matua Tuarua: Professor Huia Tomlins-Jahnke is Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngai Tahu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Ngāti Hine. She is Professor of Māori & Indigenous Education at Massey University where she was the inaugural Toi o Te Wānanga Fellow. Huia trained as a primary teacher and holds professional qualifications in education (BEd, MEd Hons). Huia has extensive experience in iwi research and has a PhD that investigated the nature of tribal service provision in health and social services. She has expertise in Māori theoretical, methodological and ethical frameworks and working with Māori communities.  Kaupapa:  TBC

The afternoon Programme involves the 2021 and 2022 recipients of the 'Te Tohu Pae Tawhiti' Award from NZARE. Te Tohu Pae Tawhiti recognises researchers who have made a significant contribution to Māori education by conducting high-quality research over an extended period of time. Our speakers will discuss aspects of their research and implications of winning this award.

Associate Professor Mere Skerret

The 2022 recipient is Associate Professor Mere Skerrett. Mere has iwi affiliations to Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Rakiāmoa, Ngāti Ruahikihiki, Ngāti Māhuta, Ngāti Unu, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Te Rangiunuora, and Ngāti Pūkeko. Mere has just completed a three-year term as Head of School, in the Faculty of Education at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. She is currently Co-Principal Investigator in a Spencer Foundation Research Project which seeks to leverage practice, policy, and pluriversality of knowledge to integrate insights from multiple early childhood settings across the settler colonial contexts of Aotearoa, Canada and the United States. Her research interests have been far reaching and influential, including research into the devastating impacts of linguicide on Māori in Aotearoa and the need to re-establish and grow te reo Māori at all levels of the system and society. In this work Mere leads by example.

Dr Lesley Rameka

The 2021 recipient is Dr Lesley Rameka. Lesley has iwi affiliations to Ngāti Raukawa, and Ngāti Tukorehe. While Lesley is entering retirement, she continues to maintain a Senior Researcher role with Poutama Pounamu at Te Kura Toi Tangata, the University of Waikato. Her early work in Te Kōhanga Reo, led Lesley to investigate the use of te ao Māori and mātauranga Māori with whānau and tamariki mokopuna. Her research has continued to make significant contributions to early childhood education for over 35 years.