Course to aid confidence of Maori women

Press, 27 February 1989, Page 2

Course to aid confidence of Maori women

By

DEBORAH McPHERSON

A week-long training course to encourage Maori women to participate in political decision-making will begin at Rapaki Marae on Lyttelton Harbour today.

About 20 women from throughout New Zealand have been chosen to attend the first of three hui as part of the Putea Pounamu national training programme, organised by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs Maori Secretariat, Te Ohu Whakatupu.

In particular the programme will help Maori women develop confidence to participate in the iwi decision-making structures. The manager of Te Ohu Whakatupu, Ms Miriama Evans, said the training programme was an exciting development for

Maori women. “This will mean that our voices will be heard whenever policy advice is sought, and will ensure that the services provided by the iwi reflect and meet our needs,” she said. Once Maori Affairs was devolved to the iwi authorities, they would

give advice to the Government and would also be involved in providing services now provided by the Government, said the public affairs manager, Ms Patti O’Neil. The training would also stand the women in good stead to participate in other areas of local body

politics, particularly as the Government was planning to devolve authority in many health and education sectors. The 20 women have been chosen because of their involvement jn Maori community activities, including trust boards, marae commit-

tees, and Kohanga Reo. Each woman would be responsible for organising local training hui in her own region, where she will pass on her skills. Two other training hui will be held in Hamilton and Wellsford from March 6 to 10.