Reflection 3 - How your centre implements Tikanga Maori

STOP

At my centre there are sort of things that Tikanga Maori is similar to my culture.Tikanga Maori is an important aspect within early childhood centres, especially in New Zealand. It is a good way to help teach the Maori language and establish a foundation of speech early in a child’s life. Unfortunately with the centre I work in being an Aoga Amata (Samoan Early Childhood Centre) Tikanga Maori is not really used within my centre like the Maori language and customs. Other cultures like Samoan, Tongans and Indians have also made plans and ideas to help keep their language and ways strong within their people. This is really important in New Zealand with such a multicultural nation. In saying that we do have similar guidelines which are implemented the same way Tikanga Maori is. We have values and customs, although they may differ but they do help separate and identify our unique differences. It is based on logic and teachings of Samoans and their beliefs. Our ways of teaching may be slightly different but all have the same aim of helping children develop physically, mentally and spiritually. We do teach and encourage Maori language through waiata or songs. This is a good thing because Te Reo is used throughout New Zealand, but the emphasis of the early childhood centre that I work is to teach, nurture and protect the children while promoting the Samoan language and values at the same time.

THINK

Being a Samoan based early childhood centre, the core of Tikanga Maori has not been too successful in my centre. We have had success with teaching songs in the Maori language and the children have enjoyed, learned and have held onto most of the songs in we have taught. Sadly with the guidelines and programmes being based on Samoan customs and values we have not been able to include more Tikanga Maori into our daily activities. As teachers we do understand that this is New Zealand where Maori language is the mother tongue but also has to meet the needs and requirements of the parents and their child. Most parents who enrol their children in my centre have goal of introducing and teaching Samoan language and life into their young lives. Sometimes they do not mind Te Reo included for some parents come from both Samoan and Maori families but have to keep to our unique difference of establishing that Samoan Culture into the children’s lives. We do get a lot of support from the community, they believe this is a great way and solution to uphold our cultures and encourage more cultural childhood centres.

CHANGE

On a personal note I think including more Tikanga Maori into day to day activities should be looked at again. I believe that being in New Zealand, it should be compulsory learning more about Tikanga Maori; it helps children know more about the language which is used regularly up and down the country. We can improve on this by introducing a few activities which are different from just singing waiatas. It can help make the children more aware of Maori and their customs and values. In saying that it is relieving to know that other cultures want to promote and protect their language which helps this multicultural country identify and see the beautiful and wonderful differences that each culture stands for. This helps us gain a sense of belonging, helps us remember who we, where we come from. “Children and their families feel a sense of belonging” (Ministry of Education, 1996, p.15). We are all trying to head in the same direction which is teaching young ones and helping them establish a foundation which will one day mould them into the person they are to be.