Ngāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana
Signing of the Deed – Maths Education Programme
A hui heralding hope of a new learning deal for all previously struggling primary students in Te Waipounamu took place in Tauranga on the evening of 24 February at the Mount Maunganui home of Uncle Hohepaturanga Briggs. The school that is leading the charge in this important development for the South Island is Shirley Primary in Christchurch.
Those attending the hui numbered 12 and were from Ōtautahi, Whanganui-a-Tara, Tāmaki Makaurau and not to forget the host rōpū from Tauranga Moana. The welcome was given by Hohepaturanga’s son-in-law, Jack Thatcher (the navigator), and Justin Tipa from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu replied for the manuhiri. Amongst the host rōpū, any sense of mystery as to the purpose of the hui disappeared the moment it became obvious that the main business was getting the Deed of Partnership signed.
This Deed is the legal means of ensuring the four partners involved in this Shirley Primary project: Ngāi Tahu, the Ministry of Education, Massey University and the family representative of the James Stewart Loper Bequest, Laurie Loper, each play their parts (as agreed) in the running of the project. Once Laurie and Uncle Hohepaturanga (as witness) had signed, only Massey University is left to sign. There was a good vibe to the evening which was recorded photographically by the skilful David Copeland as part of the ‘evidence in action’ kaupapa that is increasingly being seen as a necessary part of the documentation of all Bobbie Maths projects.
So what, you might say. What is all this really about anyway? It’s about Bobbie Maths being an educational revolution. To call it that is no exaggeration. What else would you call a teaching approach that ensures every child learns as well as each other, and sees to it that none are left behind? Every staff member at Shirley Primary is currently having their understanding of learning re-jigged, the shifts they need to make are huge but they are making them. The advent of this Bobbie Maths project in Christchurch has prompted the Ministry of Education (MoE) there to work with Ngāi Tahu in what they say is “a new way.” In Wellington, the MoE, never having had to deal with a bequest before, has had to formulate a legal way to deal with something new to its experience.
The resulting shifts involved may not seem large but measured against the MoE’s no-change persona, they are huge. Bobbie Maths is indeed the ideal revolution in that it is win-win for all involved. It has prised open the window of opportunity sufficient to give the promise that in the not too-distant future, all students will become very successful learners.
nā Laurie Loper.
Remaining hui for 2016
- 19 June
- 7 August
- 16 October
- 4 December (Venue and Time yet to be announced).
All welcome – enquiries to Uncle Joe Briggs:07 578 5997 or email: [email protected]
Left to right: Awhina Thatcher, Michaela Kamo, Huey Ruhere, Jack Thatcher, John Good, Hohepaturanga Briggs, Laurie Loper, Adrienne Alton-Lee, Justin Tipa, Andre Konia (seated right), and Jacqui Poutu.