HIGH community interest in learning more about traditional Maori medicine has prompted Te Wananga o Aotearoa ki Kawerau to offer a new course teaching about these healing skills.
The 38-week Te Pokaitahi Tikanga (Rongoa) Kaupae 4 – Certificate in Rongoa (Maori medicine) Level 4 course starts next month and has no fees.
“We’ve introduced the programme into the community as there has been high interest amongst local people in rongoa Maori,” says Jacqueline McRae-Tarei, the kaiwhakahaere ako (manager educational delivery) for Kawerau.
Course tutor Vanessa Skipper says the certificate course is being introduced to the community of Kawerau as a way of meeting a need from people who are wanting to learn traditional methods of looking after themselves and their whanau.
“People from all walks of life have expressed an interest in this course and have various reasons for wanting to come and learn. We are absolutely delighted to be able to provide this course to our community.”
The course offers the opportunity for people to start becoming a kaitiaki (guardian) of rongoa Maori and to connect with ancestral matauranga (knowledge) to address the wellness needs of today, she says.
It includes learning about customs and protocols, how to harvest rongoa plants and a range of practices necessary to ensure medicines are used safely.
However, actually using rongoa or advising others on how to use it safely will require further study beyond the new level 4 course on offer, she says. “So, our course is a very useful pathway into future study in this area.”
Meanwhile, another new course on offer at the Kawerau campus this year is He Puawai, the Certificate in Adult & Tertiary Teaching (Level 5), which also starts next month and runs until July.
The course qualification is the minimum required for teaching at Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
Jacqueline says it ias also useful study for workers in community services and other providers who engage with adult clients. “They’ll find this programme valuable as part of their professional development.”
The course helps people to develop adult learners’ capability and confidence. It provides Maori philosophies, principles and matauranga to enhance teaching practices, as well as an understanding of guiding adult learners in literacy, numeracy, technology, personal growth and workplace upskilling.
The programme is noho (marae stay) delivered, a preferable method for those already working fulltime.
Noho run once a month, Friday evening to Sunday, while there are also tutorial evenings which can be done either on site at the Kawerau campus or online.