May 17, 2017
Te Putahi a Toi guards Maori standards at Massey
The new head of Massey University's Te Putahi a Toi says Maori studies is playing a greater role within the wider university system.
Public health expert Meihana Durie has been welcomed this week to a position once held by his father, Professor Sir Mason Durie, who established the school of Maori art, knowledge and education 20 years ago.
He has been teaching at Te Wananga o Raukawa.
Dr Durie says while part of the job is about maintaining traditions, it is also about how matauranga Maori knowledge systems can help solve the problems of the future.
There is also a lot of integration of kaupapa Maori in other university disciplines.
"There's a real drive now to have a greater sense of Maori cultural identity within some of the programmes and some of the papers taught outside Maori studies so I think part of the role for Te Putahi a Toi is to ensure whatever is offered outside of the school is authentic and meaningful, not tokenistic, and that has always been a challenge," Dr Durie says.
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com