The Te Tī Ka Rito wānanga will aim to enhance participants’ understanding of Māori perspectives on the local environment and to build capacity for integrating these perspectives into teaching, research, and practice.
Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata.
When the land is well, the people will be well.
The Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka Sustainability Office and the Office of Māori Development will be providing a three-day environmental wānanga - Te Tī Ka Rito, for all University staff.
This developmental wānanga will be held at Puketeraki Marae from 15 to 17 December to support the professional development of University staff in engaging with and applying mātauranga Māori within the taiao (environment).
Ben Sommerville, who leads staff engagement with the University of Otago’s Sustainability Office, says this wānanga will be the first of its kind, where mātauranga Māori and te reo Māori play a significant part in teaching and learning about the taiao, specifically the local environment.
“To ensure there is an appropriate understanding of te ao Māori prior to attending the wānanga it is essential for attendees to complete all modules of the Te Rito Bicultural Competency programme, which is available to all staff. The wānanga itself will be taught in both te reo Māori and English with consideration for the level of te reo Māori used,” Ben says.
Office of Māori Development Project Manager Kiritea Smith emphasises that the wānanga will aim to enhance participants’ understanding of Māori perspectives on the local environment and to build capacity for integrating these perspectives into teaching, research, and practice.
“We think this is an amazing opportunity for our staff who intend to leave with a cherished piece of matauranga Māori relating to the taiao, where they are able to take it back to their own parts of the University and further teach others,” Kiritea says.
“Growing academic, professional, and personal capacity to engage with mātaturanga Māori and te ao Māori. As the University becomes Te Tiriti-led, this wānanga supports that pathway and our direction to pae tawhiti.”
Participants must complete all modules of the Te Rito Bicultural Competency programme. Preference will be given to those that can attend all three days.
Staff can register for free using this link.
A waitlist will be created as registrations are filling up quickly. Currently, there are no future Te Tī Ka Rito wānanga planned.
Please send through any questions or queries you might have to Ben Sommerville.