September 03, 2014
Rangatahi a gift to nuture
A hui on the future of Maori development has been told rangatahi need to be seen as a taonga to be nurtured rather than a risk to be managed.
Waikato University demographer Tahu Kukutai told Te Pae Roa 2040 at Massey University’s Albany Conference that while the Pakeha population is rapidly aging with a median age over 40, the Maori median age is around 23.
That means today’s tamariki are tomorrow’s workforce.
She says in demographic terms that should be seen as a structural gift.
Dr Kukutai says education is only one part of realising that investment, and Maori also need to think about issues of equity and maintenance of culture.
Maori also need to think beyond the nation state, because more than 17 percent of Maori now live overseas, compared with just 14 percent at the turn of the century.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TAHU KUKUTAI CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjE3Mjc=
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