Kia Mau co-facilitator Petera Tapsell takes participants through a course module.
Initiated some three years ago by Petera Tapsell and Ted Toroa, the Kia Mau programme was designed to provide training to Community Probation & Psychological Services’ staff to increase the knowledge and skills that enable them to work more effectively with Maori offenders.
In that time, Kia Mau training has always taken place at CPPS service centres or in the conference rooms of hotels. But for the first time, the Nelson/Marlborough/West Coast area took level two of the training programme to Picton’s Waikawa marae, where participants from the region spent two days and a night at a noho marae learning about tikanga Maori.
“It was much easier to teach staff about the marae and protocols because we were actually surrounded by the resources that we teach about,” says Petera. “It was an opportunity for the participants to put into practice what they had learnt.”
Not all Kia Mau courses will be taught at marae – mainly because of time and commitment constraints – but it certainly was a treat for the facilitators and the participants.
Many had not experienced a marae setting before and according to Petera the staff who took part in the programme really enjoyed it.
“Right from the outset the goal was to one day present Kia Mau in a marae environment and now that aim has become a reality,” comments Petera. “We’ve had positive feedback from all who were involved with the Picton programme.”
Key areas of learning in the intensive, two-day programme include understanding how Maori nuclear and extended families work; tikanga Maori, including core concepts and their use; the correct pronunciation and usage of Te Reo Maori; and the purpose, structure and importance of the marae.
All CPPS staff members are required to complete the Kia Mau programmes at all three levels, to help them deal more appropriately and confidently with Maori in their everyday work.
Kia Mau 1 is a one-day course that looks at the Treaty of Waitangi and how it affects Corrections and Maori offenders. Once staff have finished level one they are then expected to complete level two.
The third level is yet to be rolled out but will be an extension of Kia Mau 2 where relationships with local iwi need to be formed.