June 10, 2022
Whare wananga laid foundatin for Hohepa
A nephew of new knight Sir Patu Hohepa says a traditional Maori education laid the foundation for the academic and political achievements that followed.
Julian Wilcox says Sir Patu is rightly celebrated for his work understanding the roots of te reo Maori in Pacific languages and looking for new ways to teach languages.
He also worked with iwi and Maori leaders to understand mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga and how to bring te Tiriti o Waitangi back to life.
What grounded him was what he learned growing up Te Mahurehure in Waima.
“His Maori academic career really began at a very young age when he went into the old traditional whare wananga. It started all the way back with Te Atua Wera – Papahurihia, Āperahama Taonui, Mohi Tāwhai, Hōne Tōia, these are all names we have heard of, particularly in Ngapuhi and in Hokianga. Uncle Pat is a graduate of that old whare wananga and I think without that upbringing he wouldn’t be where he is today,” Mr Wilcox says.