TE TIRITI O WAITANGI POLICY

RATIONALE

To ensure we reflect the important and unique place of Māori within Early Childhood Education in Aotearoa. Curious Minds Early Learning are committed to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi and supporting the principles of partnership, protection, and participation.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to acknowledge and support Te Tiriti o Waitangi as an important and founding document within Aotearoa, New Zealand. We are committed to uplifting and promoting Māori pedagogy by weaving the core values through our curriculum and daily practice.

These core values are:

• Kotahitangi – Oneness/Unity
• Kaitiakitanga - Guardianship
• Mauritanga – Life Essence
• Manaakitanga – Hospitality/Care
• Rangatiratanga - Leadership
• Wairuatanga – Spiritual Connection
• Oranga – Health
• Whanaungatanga – Relationships and Connections
• Mātauranga – Knowledge
• Māia - Bravery
• Akonga – Reciprocal Learning
• Tuakana/Teina Relationships - Reciprocal Learning
• Mahi Tahi – Collaboration and Participation

At Curious Minds Early Learning, we will ensure tamariki develop knowledge, appreciation and understanding of our bi-cultural heritage and support the use of te reo Māori as a living language. Our curriculum respects and supports the right of each tamaiti to be confident in their own culture and encourages tamariki to understand and respect other cultures too.

REFERENCES & REGULATIONS

Te Whāriki (2017)

• Principals of Whakamana/Empowerment; Kotahitanga/Holistic Development; Whānau tangata/Family and Community; and Ngā hononga/Relationships.
• Mana whenua/Belonging: Children and their families feel a sense of belonging.
• Mana reo/Communication – Goal 3: Children experience an environment where they experience the stories and symbols of their own and other cultures.

Licensing Criteria for Education & Care Services 2008 and Early Childhood Education Curriculum Framework (amended 2022)

• C5: The service curriculum acknowledges and reflects the unique place of Māori as tangata whenua. Children are given the opportunity to develop knowledge and an understanding of the cultural heritages of both parties to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• C6: The service curriculum respects and supports the right of each child to be confident in their own culture and encourages children to understand and respect other cultures.

PROCEDURES:

• All team members will demonstrate a commitment to building knowledge of tikanga Māori and te reo Māori as well as demonstrate respect for mātauranga Māori to work effectively within the bi-cultural context of Aotearoa.
• All team members integrate te reo me ngā tikanga Māori (the language and its cultural practices) into all aspects of the Centre’s environment and curriculum, including, music, rituals and events.
• Kaiako support all tamariki to understand, respect and appreciate te reo me ngā tikanga Māori.
• Visual aids and language prompts are displayed within and around the Centres, to encourage Kaiako and other adults to extend their knowledge of te reo Māori.
• All staff greet tamariki, whānau, colleagues, visitors and phone enquiries in both te reo Māori and English.
• Kaiako develop meaningful relationships with whānau and respect their aspirations for their tamariki.
• Kaiako will discuss and inform others of appropriate practise with regard to tikanga Māori to increase awareness of the partnership inherent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Curious Minds Early Learning will continue to develop and maintain links with the local Iwi, Hapu and community.
• Professional development training will be made available for teachers to extend their Tikanga Māori and Te Reo Māori knowledge.
• Kaiako will reference Māori frameworks such as Te Whare Tapa whā (Duries, 1998), Te Wheke (Pere, 1991), Te Whatu Pōteka (2009) appropriately within documentation.
• We will endeavour to make, find, and provide Māori and natural resources.
• Where possible, curriculum will be developed with a Māori lens to provide genuine opportunities for participation and to enhance learning outcomes for tamariki Māori.
• This policy will be used by management, when implementing policies, objectives and practices at the Centre to ensure we remain committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

LINKS TO OTHER POLICIES & PROCEDURES:

• Assessment, Planning and Evaluation Policy
• Centre Philosophy