Bilingual Courses

Tu Tangata, Issue 4, 1 February 1982, Page 42

Bilingual Courses

A programme was begun last year in several Porirua primary and intermediate schools to encourage teaching the Maori language to children interested in learning. The emphasis was to be on spoken Maori with the hope that teaching would eventually enable children to use conversational Maori. A series of sixweek teacher release courses were arranged providing training in spoken Maori and teaching methods. Most schools in Porirua East and Titahi Bay Intermediate sent teachers to at least one course, a commitment which reflects the considerable importance being place by educational authorities on restoration of the language. Bilingual classes will be taught in the Titahi Bay Intermediate next year. Such a programme cannot be effective in the long-term without adequate support from the community. To gain support and promote Te Reo Maori, seminars were arranged for teachers and parents. There is still need for parent/community support, as teachers need to be guided by the parents/community in what they see as the future, do we want the language, do we care? The coordinators of these courses are Don Fergusson and Liz Hunkin.

Whitianga Opotiki

Surf, searock and sand sweep wind up dry hills to sky ... inconspicuous marae ‘mongst noisy pines who’d think this was a place of dreams where dreams and reality meet and reality inevitably loses I remember ... days of shared laughter lunacy quick smiles, quick wit and hard work ... shared pain and smoke roll-your-own soaking wet teatowels, dishwash hands aroha and tears late evening and Ringatu Karakia uncles Spacley and Mau incanting slowly, slowly waiting quietly for the responses i-semi-conscious, curled into aunty Em safe hear beating to the rhythm of her breathing warmth an angry night and wild sea outside this wharepuni the only backdrop to this moment ... one heartbeat in time Nightime a mihi a waiata lighthearted now romantic heck! so much laughing! Gee lights out already? tired bodies mould themselves to lumpy mattresses but minds are still alert and the old ones drift into a reverie of chaotic reminiscing Does the laughter here ever stop? One place, one time, one soul ... that never looks back without longing Mereana Waaka

Nanny I can still see my nanny’s face a thousand dreams away, All bent and huddled over she sways upon her walking stick, She turned and smiled so tender Such expressions I’ll never forget, When she laughed her old face would wrinkle even more and her mouth would open wide. I loved each line of age upon her brow, Sometimes I’d trace my fingers along each curve so smooth and soft, I once asked her “Nanny, how come you lived so long?”, “Well Girl,” she said “God doesn’t take ragwort, thats why I’m still here today”, “Oh Nanny! stop telling lies” I says, “I know! he saves the special ones till last, yeah thats why”. Now I see my Nanny’s face, She’s lying here beside me, But she has no expressions, Just one of peaceful sleep. - No more laughter or sitting on her knee, No more touching and caressing of her guiding hand, She was all the things I dreamed of, All things gentle and loving, I’ll miss my Nanny now she’s gone I’ll miss her very much But since she’s such a special person, I know she’s safe. In God’s own arms. I Mrs Ann Watene