Mā Te Huruhuru Ka Rere Te Manu

On Tuesday 5 July, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (TTWh) and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) will celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with an important and unique celebration at Waipapa Marae, the University of Auckland.

Recent recipients of the ‘Kia Ita’ Scholarships, which support the growth and advancement of Māori language researchers, will be presented awards and each will provide a short outline of their scholarship focus and research. This ceremony will showcase the success and progress of TTWh and NPM’s mutual commitment to building capacity and capability in te reo Māori and Māori research.

Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga established the ‘Kia Ita’ Scholarship in 2015 and in November awarded the inaugural round of the scholarships to five Māori students.
• Natasha Koia (Ngāti Porou)
• Joanne McNaughton (Te Arawa)
• Debbie Rahurahu (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Whaoa)
• Finney Davis (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Arawa)
• Tumatawhero Colin Tihi (Ngāi Tūhoe)
Valued at $10,000 each, this new scholarship programme is for Masters study at a tertiary institution and to complete a thesis/dissertation specifically on Māori language revitalisation or a thesis on any subject but written in te reo Māori.

The programme and partnership is designed to support postgraduate study at Masters level, and seeks to enhance the growth and development of te reo Māori within the research space.

By supporting the advancement of Māori language revitalisation and increasing the number of Māori Masters graduates throughout New Zealand, the scholarships seek to reaffirm the value of Māori led research to ensure the potential of whānau, hapū, iwi and communities, to grow their capacity, and to support their efforts in language planning and language development.

The ‘Kia Ita’ Scholarships embed Māori language, values and practices into academic research and activities and demonstrate the joint commitment of TTWh and NPM to te reo and to research.

Tomorrow these first five ‘Kia Ita’ scholarship recipients will be joined by their whānau, friends and peers along with Māori leaders and academics, students and researchers, politicians, iwi, hapū and whānau to acknowledge and celebrate not only their achievements but also to announce the 2016 awardees for the year ahead.

The 2016 recipients of the ‘Kia Ita’ Scholarship are:
• Ms Angelia (Anahera) Scott (Ngāti Kahungunu)
• Hinerangi Miriata Wiri (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tuhoe, Ngāti Paoa)
• Te Kewena White (Ngāi Tūhoe)
• Teresa (Pirihira) Denise Bowen (Ngāti Porou Te Arawa)
• Hema Temara (Ngāi Tūhoe)
NPM is delighted to be awarding these unique scholarships, and to be able to co-host with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori an event that recognises the students’ achievements, while also sharing the research and focus with a wider audience and our communities.

The ceremony and celebration of these unique and important scholarships is important, and during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori profiles the ongoing and intensive revitalisation efforts we are all engaged in, as well as the diversity and excellence of our emerging Maori scholars from around the country.

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) is a Centre of Research Excellence hosted at the University of Auckland comprising 21 research partners and conducting research of relevance to Māori communities. Our vision is Māori leading New Zealand into the future. NPM research realises Māori aspirations for positive engagement in national life, enhances our excellence in Indigenous scholarship and provides solutions to major challenges facing humanity in local and global settings. Visit www.maramatanga.ac.nz

Te Taura Whiri I te Reo Māori (TTWh) was set up under the Māori Language Act 1987 to promote the use of Māori as a living language and as an ordinary means of communication. We provide independent advice to the Minister for Māori Development about issues affecting the Māori language. Our mission is to support people so that the Māori language is a living and developing language, ensuring that te reo Māori is a living language that reflects life and culture in Aotearoa and becomes an ordinary means of communication in the home. Visit www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media