Mau ki te Ako: Iwi Are Not Silent Partners

• In Event: Professional Development Through a Social Justice Lens

Abstract

This paper reports on the fourth year of a culturally responsive professional learning and development initiative for teachers, leaders and schools in New Zealand. To ensure delivery is culturally responsive a unique consortia approach between local indigenous Māori (iwi, tribe) and two tertiary institutions was developed. Using a collaborative model indigenous iwi partnered with university specialist professionals with the intention of up skilling teachers in NZ schools to ensure Māori enjoy educational success as Māori. The project is now in the fourth year of delivery and is reconfiguring the vision, goals, roles and responsibilities of the collaborative partnership. A recent qualitative evaluation of the facilitators working on the contract has demonstrated the importance of the role of the indigenous tribe.

Authors

• Porsha London, Te Tapuae

• Philip Prendergast

• Brett Lee