February 02, 2021
Maori skills an asset for nation’s defence
Defence Minister Peeni Henare is keen to see the armed services do more to acknowledge Māori skills.
Mr Henare says the Defence Force has come a long way in the past few decades but there is more to be done.
He says it’s one thing to build a marae as a spiritual home for a service, but they also have to live those values – which defence chiefs are keen to do.
There are also opportunities in recruitment.
"Let's say you have gone through Te Kura Kaupapa o Hoani Waititi and you join the army, navy or air force, how does the service recognise those extra skills you gain from going to a total immersion kura kaupapa, because you speak te reo Māori, you bring all that āhuatanga Māori to the defence service which is an asset," Minister Henare says.
Copyright © 2021, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com