Page image

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.

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert