Takawai and Christine over the past 30 years have honed and re-honed their skills, knowledge, practice, beliefs and values to provide this exceptional transformative matauranga for all peoples…. For me, Te Pumaomao is a foundation wananga. It sets the context for Aotearoa of yesterday, today and tomorrow. There is nothing else as transformative as this wananga anywhere in Aotearoa. It is unique
It is a pleasure and honour to provide a letter of support for the Te Pumaomao and it’s birth parents – Takawai and Christine Murphy.
I am writing my support in the capacity of a Project Manager for a Kaumatua roopu here in Taranaki and as Trustee of Te Runanga o Ngati Mutunga.
So why do busy people give up three days of their lives to participate in Te Pumaomao?
“That this is the safest learning environment that I know to have both Treaty partners in the same space to learn the truth about what has happened and what is continuing to happen here in Aotearoa”. (Kaumatua participant Te Pumaomao Whai Tara -November 2014)
“We have just moved home after being away for years and are hungry to learn more about our whakapapa and to re-connect with our various whanau, hapu and iwi – back here in Ngati Mutunga and Waitara. We want our tamariki to know where they belong, their reo, and to be proud of both their Maori and Pakeha heritage”. (participant Ngati Mutunga Te Pumaomao Wananga -19-20 February 2017)
“I am interested in NZ History – and all history and I thought that this would be a good opportunity to learn more” ”. (participant Ngati Mutunga Te Pumaomao Wananga -19-20 February 2017)
“When we saw the panui – we thought that it sounded interesting and that while we didn’t know exactly what it was about, that is was a wananga that we wanted to attend to find out what it was all about”. ”. (participant Ngati Mutunga Te Pumaomao Wananga -19-20 February 2017)
So a wide range of responses – Te Pumaomao clearly attracts the curious and courageous from all walks of life and from both sides of the Treaty of Waitangi partnership.
So what did the participants say and what did they learn?
“I can’t speak my own te reo Maori – I am whakama – but now after being here at Te Pumaomao all weekend,I thought it was my fault you know. But now I know it is not myfault, or my parents fault – ”. (A kaumatua in tears having gained great insight into her life at 80+ years of age after Te Pumaomao for Kaumatua in Whai Tara – November 2014).
“Why didn’’t I know this – this should be taught in our schools – everyone needs to know this- This wananga is the best learning ever and I am in a Wananga – I am asking myself – why isn’t this being taught by our wananga?” (participant Ngati Mutunga Te Pumaomao Wananga – 19-20 February 2017)
“I want my mokopuna to know this stuff – now – not finding out at 50years of age” (participant Ngati Mutunga Te Pumaomao Wananga -19-20 February 2017)
“Since I have been on my journey of learning Te Reo – I have been a bit hoha with some of my whanau you know – my grand-parents and great-grandparents who were all fluent speakers of te reo Maori – who all lived it – I was hoha as to why they stopped using it and why they didn’t pass it on to us? – and now after all this time – I now understand why they made those choices – now I finally know and I understand”. (participant Ngati Mutunga Te Pumaomao Wananga -19-20 February 2017)
Te Pumaomao is NOT all HUI and no DOEY
Below is a sample of some of the Action plans that particpants worked collectively to achieve. This is evidence of the transformative change that is Te Pumaomao;s magic.
Action Plans:
A Whanau Plan – A plan of action by a whanau who have committed to first ensure that they actively educate all of their mokopuna and then to work with their immediate whanau with the knowledge and information that they have learnt from this wananga. Additionally they are going to report to their local Marae committee’s and iwi trust boards – to encourage their respective marae and iwi to participate in Te Pumaomao training. I think Ngati Mutunga are on to it in how they are providing the training for their whanau, iwi.
A Reconciliation Plan for Whai Tara – This group have committed to working with the Knox Church community. They have several goals that they want to achieve – from raising the awareness of the Church and the role that Churches collectively have played in the colonising process of Aotearoa and tangata whenua. Another goal is to work with the church to get them better engaged with local Maori, the Marae and hapu and iwi – as a ‘supportive’ allie to tangata whenua.
Mob: 0274 456 362 Email: cbtuuta@xtra.co.nz Landline: 06 755 05902
A Personal Plan to continue on my journey in te Ao Maori: My action plan is to keep learning and researching all of this stuff that I have learnt this weekend. This has been the best wananga that I have ever been on – and I work in the education business. Everyone Maori and Pakeha should be coming to this wananga. All the legislation stuff just blew me away. I want more. I am hungry for more or I could do this again and again as there is so much to learn. Takawai and Christine are the best teachers I have ever met. I would like to try and find out why this wananga is not part of our Wananga curriculum.
The Facilitators:
“Takawai and Christine are the bomb facilitators – Just the best. Professional, experienced and yet keep it fun, relevant and interesting. Takawai’s jokes are a really maroke (dry). Really enjoyed learning in this way and I am going to tell all my whanau and friends about Pumaomao.” (participant Ngati Mutunga TePumaomao Wananga -19-20 February 2017)
“I loved learning this way – but they made it so. I never did really like school you know – it was hard for us Maori kids and so I never really liked it. But now I am old you know a kaumatua I have realised that I like learning things. The way they teach is very good, they never made me feel like I am dumb or stupid. And I laughed and cried here. (Kaumatua participant Pumaomao Whai Tara -November 2014)
As a facilitator and trainer I tend to have very high expectations of individuals who chose to put themselves in these extraordinary positions. Takawai and Christine over the past 30 years have honed and re-honed their skills, knowledge, practice, beliefs and values to provide this exceptional transformative matauranga for all peoples. Nga tohunga o te ha e korua.
Te Pumaomao is as relevant today, as it was thirty years ago.
Takawai and Christine as a husband and wife team, demonstrating their model of true partnership as they facilitate their Te Pumaomao is their gift to our ever evolving nation of Aotearoa-New Zealand.
For me, Te Pumaomao is a foundation wananga. It sets the context for Aotearoa of yesterday, today and tomorrow. There is nothing else as transformative as this wananga anywhere in Aotearoa. It is unique.
Should you wish to discuss any of the content of this letter of support, please contact the writer, Colleen Tuuta at cbtuuta@xtra,co.nz.
Pai marie
Colleen Tuuta
Director
ALBATROSS ENTERPRISES LIMITED
Te Pumaomao Nation Building Seminars 