Waihou

Te Ao Hou, March 1962, Page 19

Waihou The tour was arranged under the auspices of the Maori Affairs Department, Whangarei. I journeyed up north to Okaihau with Mr Pihema, a Maori Welfare Officer; there we met Miss Paitai, also a Maori Welfare Officer, who was to take us to our first meeting place in North Hokianga. Waihou had made preparations to receive us that morning, and on arrival we were duly welcomed by the Elders who were present, Mr S. Ngarapo and Mrs and Mrs K. Tetai. An elder from a nearby village, Mrs M. Ngarapo, was also present. Altogether twenty-five people attended the meeting. We listened to the speeches of welcome, not without qualms on my part as I noted their easy eloquence and wondered about my talk, then we settled down to the purpose of our visit. I told them how children learn for themselves if we provide the opportunity; that is, the right kind of play equipment, sufficient space and time for them to grow in, companionship and good supervision. How play equipment carefully planned and designed can help children to develop in all ways; how groups of parents who are concerned about their pre-school children can band together and establish their own play centres, and how this is being accomplished all over New Zealand. The audience listened attentively, and in the discussion that followed, the elders were particularly interested in the social adjustment of the young children before they go to school. The discussion brought to light a concern felt by many present, that to solve the educational problems of young children we must start in the important pre-school years.