Monica and Bronwyn will discuss their findings from interviews with a range of stakeholders around the concept of implementing a potential compulsory Te Reo Māori policy in schools- the potential risks, the opportunities and strategies that might help its success. They will share their recommendations for a range of future-focused ideas and suggestions that could bring about change in our schools and give Te Reo Māori, the mana it deserves.
Monica was an educator in Kura Auraki for thirty years in Waikato, Poneke and Tamaki Mākaurau ki Te Tonga as a Scale A, Reading Recovery Teacher and a Kaiako Māori before moving into Deputy Principal and Acting Principal roles. She is the mother of two daughters who have come through Kohanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa Māori, competitive kapa haka and studying Te Ao Māori and Mātauranga Māori at tertiary level. Monica was on the Ohu Kaihautū of Ngā Mokopuna for 10 years through the Ohu Kaimahi supporting our Kaiako Māori. Monica has completedher Master of Education thanks to a Teach NZ Study Award and has co-authored an online article with Dr Bronwyn Wood for the NZ Annual Review of Education Online Journal which is due to be published in May 2022. Monica is a kaupapa Māori Researcher conducting Kaupapa Māori research in Māori communities and a Family Therapist at The Family Centre in Lower Hutt.
She is passionate about Te Ao Māori in our English-medium schools and wants Kiwi teachers to be fully equipped to tautoko our young people in a modern Aotearoa-New Zealand context.