Advisers should be Maori—teachers

Press, 19 September 1985, Page 25

Advisers should be Maori —teachers

PA Auckland Auckland Maori teachers plan to ask the Minister of Education, Mr Marshall, to replace five Europeans who hold Maori advisory positions in the Education Department. The teachers, who will meet the Minister early next month, would tell him that Europeans held five of the seven Maori advisory positions in Auckland, said the president of the Auckland Maori Teachers’ Association, Mr Pat Heremaia. Maori studies and language teachers in secondary schools felt “inadequately served” by the European advisers, he said. “It is time they took into account the needs and criteria of Maori teachers. That is what they are there for.” Mr Heremaia emphasised that it was not the fault of

the advisers themselves but of the selection panel which was entirely European. The northern regional superintendent in the Education Department, Mr Pat Foley, said he would be prepared to discuss the group’s concerns with them but neither had approached him to do so. Mr Foley said two different advisory groups in the department might have caused some confusion. The first group of eight advisory officers promoted Taha Maori and Maori studies. Most of these people were Maori, he said. The second group, which was set up in the 19605, aimed to improve the English language ability of Maori children. This group was mainly European. “A clear understanding of the roles of these two groups and what they were set up for is needed,” said Mr Foley. “The question

they would need to address is whether the reasons the group was set up in the first place are still appropriates.” Mr Foley said that the English language team had done a “first-class” job and should be commended for its dedication. The Maori and Pacific Island officer in the department, Mr Wally Penitito, said some people in the advisory group had been there since it was set up. He agreed Maoris should eventually fill the positions but did not want the present people to be transferred or to lose their jobs. Some had been looking for other jobs, possibly because of pressure from Maori teachers to get out, he said. “In time, these advisers will all be Maori but it does not mean the job can’t be done just as well by Europeans,” he said.