New iwi resource to help build cultural competence

Thursday, 22 November 2018

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō cultural advisor Kiley Nepia and his daughters Te Ao Marama, centre, and Mareikura Nepia get their hands on the new resource kit.

Research carried out by a top of the south iwi has shown some members are hesitant to engage because they feel their own Te Ao Māori skills are not at a high enough level.

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō has launched a new cultural resource kit to help connect whanāu with Te Ao Māori, starting with the basics.

The new resource kit includes a range of media designed to be easily accessible.

Iwi cultural advisor Kiley Nepia said they did not want people to feel 'intimidated or whakamā (embarrassed)' because they might not have the reo skills or tikanga.

The new multi-media learning kit introduced members to their pepeha, waiata unique to the tribe, and karakia. An app could soon follow.

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Nepia said while not everyone struggled with their identity, the Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trust was keen to see the cultural competency of whānau grow and thrive.

He said enough people had an issue that the trust wanted to help.

The intergenerational design on the cover was chosen so everyone, young and old, could identify with it.

'We know that some people have never had the opportunities. Colonisation and the way older generations were mistreated at school saw them beaten for speaking te reo.

'We want them to know that what they are feeling is a product of our colonisation that but that it isn't their pain to carry,' Nepia said.

'This resource kit is a way of empowering everyone to learn the basics, in a really easy and fun way they can be proud of.'

The kit, illustrated by graphic artist Tui Johnson, included a booklet accompanied by video footage and a wallet card that members could keep with them.

Initial uptake had been positive and the simple kit was 'only the start' in a bid to help raise cultural awareness, Nepia said.

'We're really excited. This is the first of many to come as this cultural content can be repackaged and taught in a number of different ways.

'Already, through our Mana Rangatahi programme for youth, we are seeing so many green shoots in our cultural revitalisation.'

Nepia said while the initiative had been developed primarily for members, the wider community response had been encouraging.

'It's exciting to think about the future,' he said.