Skip Content
Puna_Reo

Pic from left: Early learning Centre educator Ave Robertson, Lead Early Learning Tracey Mansell, Puna Manager Patricia Howarth of Nga Kākano O Te Manuka ELC (Early learning Centre)

A cultural lens focused on kaupapa Māori and Pasifika in early childhood education is being magnified at Ngā Kākano o Te Mānuka, all in the name of research.

The puna whakatupu, located at the Māngere campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, is halfway through a two-year study into how contemporary early childhood services can better integrate indigenous culture to support and develop responsive teaching theory and practices.

With six early childhood centres involved in the research - which is funded through the Government's Teaching and Learning Research Initiative - partnerships have formed between TWoA, Victoria University and Pasifika communities in Wellington.

University of Waikato principal researcher Lesley Rameka says the project has come about after kaiako raised concerns about the disconnect between current theory and Māori perspectives around childrearing.

"To date, there is a noticeable gap in literature about Māori and Pasifika theory and practice in early childhood provision, which has an important role in building strong learning foundations to support the development of competent and confident learners," she says.

"Our goal is to create new knowledge by reclaiming traditional and contemporary Māori and Pasifika values and understandings of care and education for infants and toddlers."

Dr Rameka says the findings will help the development of theory and culturally-embedded practice, to create statements, themes, guidelines and examples for early childhood services.

At Ngā Kākano o Te Manukau, the project began earlier this year with the collection of pūrakau about traditional knowledge and exploring how these could be reframed in a modern day context.

Ngā Kākano o Te Mānuka manager Patricia Howarth says the outcome became a moteatea.

"Our vision for the mōteatea was to acknowledge the innate rangatiratanga in each tamaiti," she says.

"These kupu tautoko them to grow and be leaders wherever they find themselves."

Principal advisor Tracey Mansell says the main objective of the research is better educational outcomes.

"The overall aim therefore, is not only to support culturally-embedded infant and toddler provision in early childhood services, but to build knowledge about teaching and learning that will lead to significantly improved outcomes for learners."

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has five puna whakatupu, in Gisborne, Hamilton, Tokoroa, Te Awamutu and Auckland.

 Back to news & events

Published On: 8 Nov, 2016

Article By:



Other Articles

  • 14 May 2025

    A full circle moment from tauira to kaiako

    Explore the inspiring journey of Krystle Nikora, from tauira to kaiako at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Discover how her passion for te reo Māori blossomed and led her to teach He Pī ka Rere Level 3 and 4.

  • 8 May 2025

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa introduces four new study opportunities in their Semester B offerings

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa introduces four new study programmes for Semester B, including Māori Governance, Digital Media and Design, Building and Construction Skills, and Study and Employment Skills. Designed to meet the needs of tauira, whānau, hapū, and iwi, these programmes integrate mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori perspectives. Enrol now to grow your skills and achieve your aspirations.

  • 30 April 2025

    Mākereti Papakura, the first Indigenous woman to study at Oxford, to be awarded a posthumous degree

    The School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography at the University of Oxford has announced that pioneering Māori scholar, Mākereti Papakura, will receive a posthumous degree more than 100 years after she began her studies.

  • 24 April 2025

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa celebrates 40 years of transforming education

    Te Wānanga o Aotearoa celebrates 40 years of transforming education since the opening of O-Tāwhao Marae. Join us for a special Taringa podcast episode and livestream on Facebook.