Social Work students receive valuable marae experience

For many of our students the visit to Ōrākei was the first time they were able to experience important Māori cultural practices such as pōwhiri. Prior to the visit, all participating EDSW staff and students were supported in learning marae protocol by programme director Shirley Ikkala and tutored in waiata by Toi and Tangiwai, Amo Taurima who led everyone onto the marae.

Associate Professor Jay Marlowe delivered a mihi whakatau on behalf of the group of staff and students.

“It represented a big learning curve…delivering a mihi for such an important point for our school really meant that it needed to be done well. It was important that I knew what I was saying and why I was saying it.”

Jay was supported in his mihi by the wider School of Counselling, Human Services and Social Work team, with head of school Associate Professor Allen Bartley sharing guidance from past experience, and Hēmi Dale of the School of Te Puna Wānanga guiding construction and pronunciation of the speech.

Jay has found the emphasis of building connections with tangata whenua a welcome change to his experiences as an early career academic overseas.

“I found it a welcome change that we’re expected to articulate how the courses we teach incorporate mātauranga Māori…while this still remains very much a work in progress, it creates opportunities for reflection and relationship building.”

Kelly Wai, a first-year Master of Social Work Professional student said it was important for social work professionals to build relationships with mana whenua.

“As we know that mana whenua are the indigenous people, it is extraordinarily important for us as students to develop in-depth understanding of the indigenous worldviews, tikanga and practice models generated from Māori knowledge. Students will likely come across mana whenua as well as other tauiwi when they go out to work in a range of fields of practice, so this is significant for us to be able to get the required information and skills right when working with tangata whenua.”

Kelly joined her fellow students in experiencing a pōwhiri, introducing herself through pepeha, sharing her journey so far with social work, and reflecting on lessons learned from the day.

“It was cool to enjoy the moment while being exposed to such a powerful and uplifting historical event of mana whenua. It was absolutely beneficial to both personal and professional development.”

Kelly said the day was an important part of her development in entering the workforce as a social work graduate.

“As whakawhanaungatanga is at the heart of our practice, I believe the warmth and good intent we bring to the whare will help us connect with one another, build the trust needed, and bring us closer, regardless of where we come from.”