March 26, 2024
Honour for teachers of teachers
Kaa and Tāwhirimātea Williams, who have trained hundreds of teachers of te reo Māori in over 60 years of collective service, have been awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Auckland Waipapa Taumata Rau.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori Te Kawehau Hoskins says the pair had wanted to submit a doctoral thesis in te reo Māori, but as busy educators they hadn’t the time to complete their studies.
She says the degrees, which were initiated by the Māori studies department, are a testament to their lifelong commitment to te reo Māori education.
“They’ve taught generations of teacher educators who have gone forth into the world and into kura. it’s not measurable is it but you know teaching is a quite a selfless profession. So from what I can tell they’re going to carry on until they can’t carry on any longer and I think that’s just wonderful,” Dr Hoskins says.
The last Māori to receive an honorary doctorate from Auckland University was the late Joe Hawke of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei three years ago.