Department Bicultural Strategy

A Bicultural Strategy for the Department was given the ‘green light’ by staff after being supported by the Maori Advisory Group (MAC) early in the New Year. The purpose of the Strategy is to expand and contribute to mātauranga Māori by providing facilities, research, support and advocacy for staff, students and visitors. This is to align with and support the developing landscape architecture profession’s bicultural strategy.

There are several key aspects of the strategy aimed to bring about changes. The first is to open a resource office in the centre of the department for staff, students, and kaumātua who are invited to visit the Department (more about that below). The Strategy also provides for mentoring of Māori students, support for the MAC group, two seminars or hui on Māori topics per year, and improved Māori practices, knowledge and curricular content. Copies of the Strategy are available from the Department.

The contribution to the Strategy of one of our students needs highlighting. Tosh Grahame took on organising three (one extra) seminars this year, which will be a major asset to the Department. The seminar series kicks off Māori Language Week for the first seminar, and the series is notified separately. In short the dates are:

·       July 24 Haare Williams on Whenua: Kaitiakitanga;

·       August 7 Pita Ture on Whenua: Wairuatanga; and

·       September 18 Malcolm Paterson on Whenua: Mauritanga.

Each seminar is on Thursday 12.30- 1.30pm and they will be popular events for landscape architects seeking to expand their knowledge of mātauranga Māori, as well as with other colleagues.

The Resource (whanau) Room

Centrally situated this room is now ready for gatherings and other use. Equipped with two desks for staff or students, it also has a comfortable sofa, with room for small meetings. Māori resource material for inspiration and research is beginning to expand through donations. We anticipate a motif to call attention to the room, on glass to be designed by student Natalie Couch. In addition, students will be called to a meeting to discuss and provide information for the Maori carver who has agreed to prepare a lintel or other carving for the room. The MAC members, students and staff will also be asked to contribute research on Unitec and ideas to formulate a name for the room, which we would then submit to authorities for agreement. The intention is that this room will be a physical base to provide support for students and staff and will encourage expansion of research and knowledge. Join us there.