Maori culture 'vital'

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32637, 19 June 1971, Page 22

Maori culture 'vital'

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent *

LONDON, June 17.

Cultural differences between Maori and pakeha must be recognised before any educational programmes aimed at improving the employment chances of Maoris can be fully successfuL

This is the view the vice-president of the New Zealand Employer’s Federation (Mr A. F. Crothall), expressed in a speech to the International Labour Organisation conference, in Geneva.

Mr Crothall, New Zealand’s employer delegate to the fifty-sixth session of the 121-nation organisation, devoted over half his speech to questions of the Maori and his employment. He said that statistics showed clearly that the largest percentage of Maoris in employment was in lessskilled or unskilled occupationes, whereas the, majority of pakehas (he explained the meaning ,of the word) was in professional, administrative or clerical work.

“Without an adequate knowledge of the cultural background of the Maori, it could easily be wrongly assumed that these people are nredominantly engaged in these occupations because of some deficiency in attitude, or because their level of education is insufficient to fit them for higher occupations,” said Mr Crothall. GREGARIOUS RACE

"But, in truth, our Maori people are more at ease when they can work in a group, particularly with people of their own race.

“This preference often provides them also with opportunities they seek, of work of a practical nature, requiring the use of hands, strength and manipulative skills,

rather than work requiring analytical thought or executive responsibility. “This no doubt influences their response to educational opportunities.” Mr Crothall said that there were pleasing trends, such as more Maoris taking apprenticeships and more becoming teachers. The growing urbanisation of the Maori had also created a growing emphasis on education.

However, he said, much progress in this field depended on a realisation of the cultural differences in the makeup of the Maori and the pakeha, and on education of

Maori parents so that they could deepen their understanding of child develoment, and of the process of education generally. EFFECTIVE WORK Mr Crothtall said that obviously the availability of Maoris to do unskilled and labouring work had helped exports, both of agricultural and manufactured goods. But the distribution of the Maori work-force was not by design, nor was it regarded in New Zealand as logical for the future.

The Maori Education Foundation, through its help and understanding, was just one organisation which had helped many Maoris who would not otherwise have obtained full realisation of their potential. “All in all,” said Mr Crothall, "it is fair to say that agencies in New Zealand, with practical support from employers, generally are working toward more effective education in a form that is acceptable to the Maori people. We are working with them and for them.”