We were privileged to have Dr Candy Cookson-Cox come and speak to us at our June hui. Dr Cookson (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu) consults to the Lakes District Health Board.

Dr Cookson has been involved in the health and education sector for over 30 years and is a renowned suicide researcher. Her research method facilitates review, reflection and restoration and is proving very successful.

Some of the key points she touched on in her presentation to our rōpū gave us all plenty to think about. She outlined that depression is not age, gender or race specific and everyone is impacted by it in some form. She believes shedding light on the topic and learning strategies and perspectives on this important issue can enable us to make a difference in our communities.

She is an amazing lady and we all appreciated her sharing her story with us.

Uncle Joe Briggs addressing the hui.

Uncle Joe Briggs addressing the hui.

Anna Were thanking Dr Cookson.

Anna Were thanking Dr Cookson.

Michaela Kamo (left) and Dr Candy Cookson.

Michaela Kamo (left) and Dr Candy Cookson.

Bobbie Maths update

Imagine a classroom where every student learns as well as everyone else, where there’s no ability grouping, where students are actively encouraged to do most of the talking, where groups of mostly three students work with only one writing implement and where failing students might make as much as four to five years progress in one school year — you’re kidding me, it’ll never happen — but it is, and if you live in the South Island, it could be happening in a primary or Intermediate school near you in about four or five years’ time. The programme of the moment is called Bobbie Maths. Get used to that name, you are going to hear a lot about it. We in Tauranga Moana are getting very used to it. We have kicked off a Bobbie Maths project in Christchurch at Shirley Primary and have had a presence in viewing the progress of the programme in Otumoetai Intermediate, and the school has opened its doors for further viewing of the programme. Likewise we are involved in the whakatau being accorded to the visit of St Martins Primary leadership from Christchurch, who are funding the implementation of the programme themselves. We also hosted a Deed of Partnership signing that gives the legal basis for the Shirley Primary project and have done a few other things besides. But the thing that will stick in our memory was that, at our last bimonthly hui we were treated to a lively video showing the progress of some very articulate Kāi Tahu students at Shirley Primary, who are making the most of the Bobbie Maths programme — just wait till they get on to the Te Reo version of it.

Bi-monthly hui dates

  • 16 October — Tauranga Boys College Wharenui
    Sunday, start time 1pm
  • 4 December (Venue & Time TBA).