As mentioned in our last column, the Hokonui Runanga is made up of different key work areas.
One of these is our kaitoko matauranga (education and community development division).
Within our educational division, the runanga has six core members of staff working together towards the same vision: that education enables the success and well-being of Ngai Tahu whanau in all aspects of their lives.
We strive to provide educational support for our members and build on this to aid our communities’ education and development.
Listing all of our kaitoko matauranga mahi would fill a newspaper on its own, so here are the basics.
To support community development, we work with a number of different organisations across a variety of different projects.
This includes, but is not limited to, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Health, Oranga Tamariki (Ministry for Children), the police and all of the local councils.
The Hokonui Runanga currently holds the contract for Te Whanau Kai Miro (Alternative Education), a school system designed to educate pupils when the traditional system fails them.
We work with the Ministry of Education with a strong focus on improving our local history curriculum and with the local schools within our rohe (area).
We provide support to Ngai Tahu members by showing them how to register officially and access scholarships and funding opportunities.
While doing all of this, we are also helping to restore and implement Ngai Tahu traditions, legends, culture and identity across our takiwa (district).
In short, the kaitoko matauranga has a lot of fingers in a lot of pies.
Our work is diverse, wide-ranging, and could not be achieved without our talented and very busy kaimahi (staff).
Mo tatou, a mo ka amuri ake nei.
For us, and our children after us.
