Distinct Maori Culture “Matter For Pride”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 40

Distinct Maori Culture “Matter For Pride”

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) AUCKLAND, May 10. Europeans should be proud of the distinctness of Maori culture, as a part of New Zealand’s national heritage, the Officer for Maori Education (Mr N. F. Ham), who will retire on May 31, said today.

People met on level terms If both were proud of their own traditions and background, he said.

The Maori language was an excellent secondary school subject and more secondary schools should teach it

The Officer for Maori Education had to watch the interests of Maori pupils and this function would become more important with the transfer of Maori schools to Education Board control. Children had much in common but Maori children also had some basic differences which the education system must recognise. The travelling to rural Maori districts by groups of training college students was a heartening development Every teachers’ college student should have a real knowledge of Maori culture; there were more than 50,000 Maori children in primary, intermediate apd district high schools.

More Maori students were getting higher marks in primary examinations for secon-

dary school scholarships, and in school certificate, said Mr Harre. High-quality Maori students were entering university. Available scholarships to Maori pupils were not only being taken up, but also keenly contested.