MAORI GIRLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25457, 11 February 1944, Page 5

MAORI GIRLS

WORK OF TE WAI POUNAMU COLLEGE

One of the most far-sighted contributions to the future of the Maori race, particularly in the South Island, was the establishment in Christchurch, 35 years ago, of Te Wai Pounamu College for Maori girls. Since that time many hundreds of girls have passed through the college, and. in going back to their own people, have done much by their example and active help to assist others in solving the many problems with which the Native people are faced. A few years ago, on the recommendation of the principal (Miss Hilda Harding), radical changes were introduced into the constitution of the college, and it was decided to accept only postprimary pupils. This made possible the teaching of specialised subjects, and to-day the college acts largely as a recruiting and training centre for girls desirous of entering the teaching and nursing professions. These two professions are regarded as those in which the girls can give the greatest service to their own people. The introduction of a scholarship scheme has enabled many girls, whose parents could not otherwise have afforded the cost of their training, to take advantage of the facilities offered by the college. Under this scheme scholorships have been given by various business firms, each scholarship paying the tuition fees of one girl for the four years' course. In requesting nominations fpr scholarships the college has asked headmasters to select only those girls likely to develop into good leaders, and the result has been that many of the most promising girls of the race have been assembled. , ~ Extensive improvements have recently been carried out at the college, and an endeavour is now being made to extend the scholarship scheme and so enable more girls to attend. At present most of the scholarships are granted by Christchurch firms, but Mr John Stewart, honorary secretary of the College Council, is at present visiting Dunedin and hopes to secure the support of local institutions. Of the 30 pupils attending the college this year, six are from Otago and Southland. Every year some of the girls, after four years of post-primary work, go out as junior assistants in Native schools. After two years’ service they qualify for admission to Training College. So enthusiastic are the girls in their new-found sphere of _ usefulness that all those who have qualified as teachers have chosen to return to Native schools. The pupils of Te Wai Pounamu, as well as enjoying a full educational syllabus, including homecraft and dietetics, receive special training in Maoritanga—a term embracing the best in Native arts and culture. The pupils are taught to lake a pride in the achievements of tire Maori race and to fit themselves to assist in the rennaissance of their people—-a rennaissance which has been stimulated by the stirring heroism of the Maori Battalion overseas.