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Further study on Biculturalism and Māori culture

Listen To Claudine introduce Te Awa Koiora, a professional programme which aims to build Te Ao Māori capability and awareness.

Te Awa Koiora (the River of Life).

Te Awa Koiora is a term given to a group of three short courses – Te Tauihu, Te Taurapa and Te Takere. Te Awa Koiora represent ‘the river of life’ which carries a waka (canoe) which is up of three distinct parts – the bow, the hull and the stern.

The purpose of these courses is to provide the journey for each participants own waka to travel through a transformative process and develop insight and understanding of things Māori.

  • Te Tauihu is the bow of the waka and it is the symbolic representation for creating new pathways. It aims to build capacity and awareness of tikanga and te reo through teaching and learning in a bicultural context with a focus on Whakawhanaungatanga.
  • Te Taurapa is the stern of the waka representing the part of the journey where new learning is embedded. This course aims to build understanding of tikanga and te reo Māori throuh teaching and learning in a bicultural context with a focus on Aroha.
  • Te Takere is the hull of the waka, and it represents the move into a position of leadership and role-modelling. This course aims to build understanding of tikanga and te reo Māori throuh teaching and learning in a bicultural context with a focus on Manaakitanga.

Contact Claudine Waitere for enquiries about the Te Awa Koiora programme claudine.waitere@wintec.ac.nz

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