Whanganui Educational Advancement Committee

Te Ao Hou, June 1964, Page 51

Whanganui Educational Advancement Committee The Whanganui Educational Advancement Committee, a very active organisation concerned with the encouragement of education amongst the children of the Whanganui district, was first established more than three years ago. At that time a number of people in the district, feeling that the basic cause of the difficulties facing our young people was a lack of education, determined to take positive steps to improve the situation in their area. In March 1961 Mr W. Herewini, Controller of Maori Welfare, speaking at a meeting at Putiki, discussed the newly-printed Hunn Report and some of the implications of the information the Report made available. Mr A. Williams, Adult Education Tutor, asked, ‘Would it not be a wise move to set up an advisory committee or group for the encouragement of education amongst our Maori children?’ The Controller applauded this idea, and so the seed was planted. Impact of Hunn Report Following on from this, a discussion group organised by The Adult Education Centre made an intensive study of the contents of the Hunn Report. Feeling the impact of the Report, the group called a general meeting of interested Maori and Pakeha to decide on the best way of forming an advisory committee to assist in the furtherance of the education of the Maori children in the area. It was at this meeting that the Whanganui Educational Advancement Committee was formed. The elders of the community were consulted, and supported this young action group in its inception. Link Between School and Parent It is the aim of the Maori members of the committee to act as a link between the school and parents, attempting to promote the furtherance of continued education and assisting parents to place children in suitable employ- Mr Mete Kingi Takarangi, M.B.E., a highly respected elder of Putiki, Wanganui, is the Patron of the Whanganui Educational Advancement Committee. Ans Westra photo One of the many young people who have worked hard on the committee is Mr Te R. K. Bailey, treasurer. His wife, Patricia, is secretary of the group.

ment. The committee operates as an information service to Maori families, and when problems arise, they can often put parents in touch with organisations which can be of assistance to them. Over the last three years the requests for the services of the committee have been many and varied, and it has gradually extended its activities to cover aspects of health, household budgeting and marriage guidance. From the beginning the Maori Education Foundation Board has shown a keen interest in the work which the group is doing and keeps in close contact with it. Conferences on Education The group continues its link with Adult Education, which has run study courses on Maori society in an attempt to cement closer relationships between Maori and Pakeha in the community. Generous assistance by the Morikaunui Incorporation and the Taranaki Trust Board enabled an Education Study Conference to be held in May 1962. Another conference, under the guidance of Mr W. Parker of the Wellington Adult Education Centre, was held in August 1963, and a similar one in May 15–17 this year. These conferences, which have been attended by many visitors and guest speakers as well as by local people, have provided a most valuable opportunity for the discussion of many matters associated with education and related topics. Popular Newsletter In an endeavour to bring the message of education into every Maori home the committee has printed six issues of a very popular and informative newsletter, ‘Te Kotuku’, each issue having 600 copies. Articles in the newsletter discuss such matters as the need for vocational guidance, the terms of assistance of Trust Boards, and information about pre-school services. Each issue also has information concerning health, and an article on some subject pertaining to Maoritanga. The editorial is always in Maori, and is contributed by a distinguished personage. Membership of Committee The following are some of the people at present associated with the group: Patron: Mr M. K. Takarangi, M.B.E. President: Mr W. R. Metekingi. Life Member: Canon H. Taeapa. Vice-Presidents: Mr J. Te H. Grace, Mrs M. M. Bailey, Mrs M. Marumaru, Mrs Shirley Anderson, Mrs Rangitaamu Takarangi, Mrs Iriaka Ratana, M.P., Mrs E. Ratahi, Mrs Brenda Gregory, Mr M. Potaka, and Mr H. K. Hipango. committee: Mr H. R. Metekingi (chairman), Mrs P. R. Bailey (secretary), Mr Te R. K. Bailey (treasurer), Mr Ross MacGregor, Mrs Wai Waitere, Miss Joyce Sewell, Mrs Ani Waitai, Miss Huia Kirk (assistant secretary), Mr G. H. Hipango, Mr Henery Bennett, Mr John Morgan, and Mr Sid Rangipuawhe. Liaison with Related Organisations As well as these elected members, there are more than twenty people who have been co-opted to the committee by virtue of their membership of other related organisations; some are headmasters and teachers at local schools, and some represent such organisations as Rotary, the Maori Women's Welfare League, the Wanganui City Maori Committee, the Department of Maori Affairs, Vocational Guidance, Pre-School Services and a number of similar bodies. The close contact with these related organisations which is gained in this way has proved extremely valuable. Local Groups Have Helped Local organisations have been of much assistance to the group; for example, the Federation of University Women has run a coaching service for secondary school pupils, while Rotary, working together with the Maori Club at Victoria University, assisted the committee to send post-primary school pupils to Wellington on an educational tour. (This was one of several educational tours which the Committee has organised for post-primary school pupils.) The very considerable and significant work being done by the Whanganui Educational Advancement Committee shows that when members of the Maori community become aware of the problems facing the younger generation, they have proved most effectively that these problems can be overcome. ? A bronze statue of a Maori warrior will soon welcome visitors to Auckland. The statue, which will be ten feet high, has been ordered by the city council and will be placed on a high pedestal opposite the Chief Post Office facing the sea. It will be the work of Miss Molly Macalister, one of the country's best sculptors.