National Maori Students' Conference

Te Ao Hou, 1970, Page 48

National Maori Students' Conference This year's National Maori Students' Conference was held at the Hamilton Teachers' College on the 9th, 10th and 11th of May. Students from all the tertiary institutions in the country were invited, and so too, for the first time, were sixth form delegates from schools in the South Auckland Education Board area, and from Maori Boarding Schools. The opening address was presented by Mr P. Amos (M.P. for Manurewa). He spoke of the leadership responsibilities of young Maori students and of their need to realize these. He also pointed to the uneven distribution of Maoris throughout the national work force and suggested that more Maoris be encouraged to enter into trade and industry. The next speaker, Miss Christensen from the Education Department, spoke of the benefits that pre-school education afforded Maori families. She pointed out the value of

play centres and family pre-school groups in helping children progress from their own practical environments to the essentially verbal classroom situation. Mr Sam Edwards, a lecturer at Hamilton Teachers' College, continued along the same vein stressing the need for a greater awareness of the particular difficulties of individual children. He, and the speaker on secondary education, Mr Frank McPherson, Papatoetoe College, both saw a need for a revision of teacher training courses to include a section on Maori studies. Both also referred to the inadequacies of the intelligence tests at present being used in placing new entrants in high schools. Dr Hugh Kawharu, Auckland University, opened the next session with penetrating issues of self-evaluation, identity and responsibility. Mr Moana Raureti, Maori Affairs, Hamilton, endorsed Dr Kawharu's statements with particular reference to Adult Education. He spoke of the value of polytechnical institutions, university extension courses and correspondence courses and also drew attention to the increasing number of non-Maoris studying the Maori language and taking Maori studies as an academic pursuit. A special addition to our programme was made on Saturday evening. The Auckland University Maori Club requested a session on the coming All Black tour of South Africa. The discussion, chaired by Mr Sam Karetu, produced the following motions: (1) That this Conference finds repugnant any legally imposed system of apartheid. (2) That the Conference of New Zealand Maori Students condemns the decision of the Maori Council to formally endorse the 1970 All Black tour. (This motion was carried, though 12 students opposed it and more refrained from committing themselves.) (3) That this Conference opposes any sporting contact with South Africa in view of that country's policies of apartheid and that the meeting seek an official assurance from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition to this effect; that sporting contact with South Africa be broken off. All three motions were carried. Later in the evening, a social function was held at Pine Lodge, Melville. Sunday morning began with a short service conducted by Canon Wi Huata. After breakfast, the plenary session, chaired by Mrs Katarina Mataira, began, and although poorly attended it did produce some suggestions that were forwarded to the General Meeting later in the day. These suggestions were the basis for discussions which produced the following recommendations: (1) That Government take full responsibility for all forms of pre-school education. (2) That the Education Department provide full academic and curriculum courses in Maori studies for all students in Teachers' Colleges and provide staff to implement these. (3) That the New Zealand primary school and intermediate school curriculum have incorporated in them more active policies concerning all aspects of the Maori. (4) That the N.Z. Federation of Maori Students collaborate with the Maori Graduates Association to investigate the position of the proposed Maori Studies Centre at the University of Waikato. (5) That the 1969–70 President of N.Z. Federation of Maori Students (Mr Des O'Connor, Auckland University) investigate the possibility of the N.Z.F.M.S. affiliating with the N.Z. Maori Council. It was also proposed that the venue of next year's Conference be Ardmore Teachers' College subject to the agreement of that College's Principal. In conclusion, we acknowledge the help of Moana Raureti, Wishy Jaram and other members of Maori Affairs, Junior Mataira and other staff of the Hamilton Teachers' College, members of the University of Waikato staff and Sam Karetu. Compiled by John Mohi and Liz Marsden