Educational Transformation through whānau (or marae-a-hapū if you prefer): The centre of our universe

Abstract

In 2012-2013 an evaluation of the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa social work degree programme Te Tohu Paetahi: Ngā Poutoko Whakarara Oranga BSW (Bi-culturalism in Practice) was conducted at the Tauranga campus.  In particular, we wanted to explore the critical indigenous space of marae and how Noho marae-based wānanga delivery might enhance tauira learning through their relationships with this space and their engagement with tribal epistemologies, in a bi-cultural social work programme. Also how this pedagogical approach might provide opportunities for contextualisation of nga takepu and tikanga in its authentic state.