Importance of education to Maoris emphasised

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32459, 20 November 1970, Page 11

Importance of education to Maoris emphasised

“I am convinced that if I could get every Maori child in New Zealand under the age of 16 years, and educate these children to university entrance standard, then there would be no Maori problem at all in New Zealand,” said Mr W. T. Royal, a Christchurch architect, on Wednesday evening.

Mr Royal was speaking to nearly 50 people at the annual meeting of Heritage (Canterbury). Once Maori children reached university entrance level they would realise the prime importance of education, he said. They would also gain confidence because they had mastered the basis of European education and could therefore move reasonably easily within a European society. At present Maoris made up 8.9 per cent or about 235,000 of New Zealand’s population. Of this number 53.6 per cent —or 120,000—were under the age of 16. Of those Maoris under 16 years of age, 85 per cent left school before they obtained school certificate. One Maori in 33 went on to sixth form level compared with one in seven Europeans; one Maori in every 100 went on to university and 40 per cent or fewer of these qualified with a degree. This compared with one in 10 Europeans. CRIME RATE Speaking of the youth crime rate in New Zealand, Mr Royal said that four of every 100 youths entered gaol, borstal or other institutions each year. Of these four, three were Maoris. This meant that 75 per cent of New Zealand’s crime involved Maoris. Mr Royal said that he had spoken to these young Maoris in gaol. Many were little more than children with an academic standard to form two level only. The

worst thing, however, was that they suffered from a tremendously negative opinion of themselves. “Some won’t even recognise the fact that they are Maoris, because they think this tabs them as secondclass citizens,” he said. Given three or four years more education, however, these young people could think logically and help themselves to get out of the trouble they were in, INTEGRATION Mr Royal emphasised the need for the Maori language to be taught in schools. This could give Maoris the confidence and'encouragement to strive harder and not to opt out of education as soon as possible. Integration to many Europeans meant moving the Maori into the European way of life, he said. While the problem was probably 75 per cent Maori, it was up to the Europeans to find 25 per cent of the impetus to help the Maori cross the bridge completely. Integration had to take place academically, socially and theologically. Officers elected were: president, Dr E. B. Reilly; vicepresidents, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr A. R. Guthrey), Mr C. F. S. Caldwell and Dr D. C. Gunby; executive, Messrs C. L. Bacon, J. N. Matson, T. M. R. Maskew, E. B. Pyne, M. P. Whatman, M. H. McCrostie, Group Captain W. G. Woodward, the Rev. D. I. B. Balfour, and Mrs E. Brown.