VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE SERVICE

Te Ao Hou, Spring 1954, Page 10

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE SERVICE Na K. T. Harawira Maori Vocational Guidance Officer Auckland Ki te iwi Maori nui tonu o Aotearoa, Te Waipounamu me Wharekauri. Ki nga matua me nga whaea o te Rangatahi e hoa ma, kia koutou ano hoki e tama ma e hine ma e rapu nei i te matauranga me nga maramatanga o enei ra, tena koutou. I te mea e hangai ana enei korero kia koutou, ka mahara ahau, he mea pai pea kia tukua atu ki te ‘Ao Hou’ kia marama ai te katoa ki te mahi a tenei Tari e kiia nei ko te ‘Tari Arataki Ki Nga Mahi’. Tenei ake nga whakamarama. Tamariki ma, ko koutou te iwi Maori mo nga ra kei te haere mai, ma koutou e arahi te iwi. Na reira, Maranga, Whitiki, Whakatangata kia kaha. He ao whakataetae tenei. Ma te matauranga, ma te manawanui, ma te whakapono me te mahi, ka pumau ai te ora mo te tangata, mo te iwi ano hoki, ora tinana ora Wairua. Ma te ora o nga taha e rua ka kore ai e titaha te haere, ka paoho ai ano hoki te reo koa te reo hari ki o tatou marae. Tiakina te tinana kawea te matauranga, kia u ki te mahi, ahakoa he aha taua mahi, mahi matauranga, mahi a-ringaringa ranei. E penei ana tetahi korero:—‘Ka kitea e te Rewera he mahi ma nga ringaringa mangere.’ E penei ana ano tetahi:—‘He mea mate te whakapono ki te kahore he mahi.’ He nui tonu nga Maori na te u ki a ratou mahi, kua tu rangatira i naianei. E toru pea nga patai e puta ake i enei mata korero, Tuatahi. He aha enei mahi? Tuarua, Kei hea enei mahi? Tuatoru, Me pehea e taea atu ai? Ehara i te mea e kuare ana tatou ki nga mahi huhua e watea mai ana ma a tatou tamariki, engari pea te huarahi e taea atu ai aua mahi, kahore e tino marama ana ki etahi, ina hoki ra, e kuare tonu ana etahi pakeha ki nga huarahi mahi ma a ratou na tamariki. Na runga i tenei ahua, ka whakaturia e te Kawanatanga i te tau 1943 tetahi Tari Apiti i raro te Tari o nga Kura (Education Department) a huaina ana ko te Tari Arataki Ki Nga Mahi (Vocational Guidance), Kei nga taone nunui anake enei Tari i nainaei, kei Akarana, Poneke, Christchurch me Dunedin. Ko te Minita o tenei Tari ko te Hon. Mrs Hilda To the Maori people of both Islands and of the Chatham Islands, to the fathers and mothers of the younger generation and to the young men and women in pursuit of present-day education and understanding, greetings. I thought it most valuable that all, but particularly the younger generation, should know of the work done by the Vocational Guidance Service. For they are the Maori people of the future and will be their leaders. Therefore they will need education, strong resolve, by faith and endurance, both in body and spirit. With the help of these their path will not deviate and happy and glad tidings will reach our maraes. What type of work is there for them to do? Where is it available? How does one go about getting it? I do not think people are ignorant of the vocations available to our children but some do not quite know the ways of entering them. Even many pakehas are not sure what their children should do for a living. This was the reason why the Government, in 1943, established an office under the Education Department called the Vocational Guidance Service. This Division has offices only at the larger cities, that is at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. The Minister in Charge is the Hon. Mrs Hilda Ross. The object of this Division is to assist and guide young boys and girls leaving high schools and colleges,

Ross, Ko te mahi a enei Tari he awhina he tohutohu hoki i nga tamariki e puta mai ana i nga Kura Teitei me nga Kareti kia whiwhi ai ki nga mahi e tika ana ma tena ma tena o ratou, nga mea tane me nga mea wahine, kia kaua ai hoki e maumauria te matauranga kua riro mai nei i a ratou. He mea pouri te matakitaki i a tatou tamariki i puta mai i nga kura nunui e pakarukaru kohatu ana i nga rori, me etahi atu mahi e tika noa iho ana ma nga mea kahore i tae ki te taumata o te matauranga. I penei ai pea he kore kai tohutohu atu i nga huarahi e taea ai nga mahi e hangai ana ma ratou. Na reira, kei te ahua ano o te matauranga te ahua o te mahi ma tena ma tena, engari he mahi ma te katoa. Ko etahi kahore i tino pai ki nga mahi Tari tuhituhi ranei, engari mo nga mahi a-ringaringa. Ae ra he ao whakataetae tenei. Ko te nuinga o nga mahi totika o nga mahi pumau hoki, me whakataetae rawa ka riro mai, ara ma te manawanui ma te kaha. Kia mahara hoki e whakataetae ana koutou ki nga toa o te pakeha, engari ahakoa pena, kaua e ngakau kore, kia u kia kaha. I tae mai tetahi tamaiti Maori ki au, ko tana korero tenei, ‘He aha te painga o te kura tonu ki te kore e homai e te pakeha he mahi?’ Ko taku whakautu tenei ki a ia, ‘Tena koa whakatutukitia to kura ka hoki mai ano, hei reira taua mohio ai,’ Ka hoki te tamaiti ra ki te kura. Kotahi tau i muri mai ka riro mai tana tiwhiketi (School Certificate). Ka toru tau taua tamaiti i naianei e mahi ana ki tetahi o nga Tari a te Kawanatanga i Akarana nei, a kei te piki haere tonu, na reira kaua e maumauria te taima i te kura, mauria kia tutuki. Ko nga tamariki katoa e tae mai ana ki tenei Tari me tetahi mauranga a-ringaringa, ara nga tiwhiketi o te kura e tika ana, e kore ia e haere kau noa atu, engari ka whiwhi ia ki tana mahi e hiahia ai. Kua pau te tekau tau oku ki tenei mahi. Kua kite katoa ahau i nga uauatanga ki a taua ki te Maori. Tae noa mai ki tenei ra, kei te ahua whiriwhiri tonu te rangatira mahi ina tonoa atu he mahi ma nga Maori. E penei mai ana te korero e kore te Maori e u ki te mahi, e kore e roa kua hoha, kua whakarere kino i te mahi. E hoa ma e ahua tika tonu ana enei korero mo etahi o tatou. I etahi wa e tae mai ana nga rangatira mahi ki te korero mai ki au, kua ngaro a ratou kai mahi, e kore e mohiotia kei hea e haere ana. E hoa ma ka kino tera mahi. No te Maori kotahi te he, ka raru katoa tatou. Whakama noa mai te Maori tika i te mahi a te Maori he, kua kore ano hoki e tukua atu he Maori ki reira mahi ai. Otira kua ahua ngohengohe mai te ahua o te rangatira mahi inaianei, kua ahua nui haere hoki nga Maori e u ana ki a ratou mahi, ma tenei ahua anake to obtain work for which they are best fitted so that their education is not wasted. It is very disappointing to see our young people leaving secondary schools to find work on the roads so that their education is of no further use to them. Their reason for doing so may be the absence of someone to guide them into callings for which they are most fitted. Mental capacity decides the most suitable job for each person. Some are not fitted for office work but can make a good living doing manual labour. For those who wish to follow some highly skilled calling, it is quite true that this is a competitive world. There is keen competition in most vocations and success is obtainable only through hard work and firm resolve. Competition has to be faced with the best pakehas offering, but this is no reason to be discouraged. Be strong and put your best foot forward. A young Maori came to me and said, ‘What is the use of further education if the pakeha is not going to employ me?’ My reply to him was: ‘Finish your schooling first and then come and see me.’ He went back to school. The following year he passed his school certificate. He has been working in a Government Department in Auckland for three years now and is progressing. So don't waste your opportunities at school but carry on until the end. All those children who come to this office with school certificate or similar qualifications will not go away emptyhanded, but can get the work they want. I have had ten years of experience. I have seen all the difficulties that beset us. Up to this day some employers hold the view that Maoris do not persevere in their work, and too often leave. I am afraid this is sometimes true. I have had employers come to me and report that their employees are absent and their whereabouts unknown. My friends, this is a bad state of affairs. Although one Maori is at fault everyone suffers. When a more capable Maori is sent as a replacement, he may find it hard to be accepted. However, employers are becoming more lenient, as more Maoris are sticking to their jobs. It is only by encouraging this steadiness that we can establish our people in good responsible positions. Many Maori children come to these offices seeking employment. Those who have foresight come before they have left school, so that they have work waiting for them when they finish their education. This is the best time to start looking for employment, as it saves valuable time later. I do not say that Government agencies should choose the jobs for each child, but our task is to point out the sort of

ka kore rawa ai tera ahua o te pakeha ki a tatou. He nui rawa atu nga tamariki Maori e haere ana enei Tari ki te rapu mahi ma ratou. Ko nga mea whai-whakaaro, ahakoa kei te kura tonu e haere mai ana ki te uiui mo nga mahi e hiahia ana ratou. Mo te puta rawa mai i te kura e tatari atu ana te mahi. Ko te wa tika ano tera hei timatanga ki te rapu mahi kia kore ai e whainga nui a te wa e mutu mai ai te kura. Ehara i te mea ma enei tari e whiriwhiri he mahi ma tetahi tamaiti, heoi ano ta matou he whakaatu kia ratou i nga ahua mahi katoa, me te matauranga e taea atu ai tera mahi tera mahi, engari kei nga mahita ano hoki tetahi wahi nui ko ratou e mohio ana ki te ahua o ia tamaiti o ia tamaiti i te kura. Ehara i te mea e warewaretia ana nga matua, he wahi tino nui ano kei a koutou, kaua e waiho ma nga kura anake e ako nga tamariki ki nga mea katoa. Ko te kura tuatahi o te tamaiti ko tona kainga. Ko te whaea tona mahita tuatahi, na reira kaua e ngakau kore, kaua e hoha e hoha ki te ako i a tatou tamariki kia tutuki tika ai hoki ki te matauranga o te pakeha. Mehemea he take ta nga matua e hiahia ana ki te korero ki a matou mo a ratou tamariki, kaua e hopohopo ki te haere mai kia whiriwhiri tahi ai tatou i nga mahi e tika ana ma a tatou tamariki. He maha tonu hoki nga matua kahore e mohio ana ki nga huarahi awhina a te Kawanatanga mo a tatou tamariki kia tutuki ai i nga kura teitei tae noa atu ki nga whare Wananga (Universities). Kahore ano hoki he aha o te tuhi mai mehemea e kore e taea te haere mai. Otira kia mahara ano hoki tatou, kei te tamaiti ano te kupu whakamutunga, kei kore e hiahiatia e ia te mahi ka mahue. ETAHI MAHI (1) Mahita kura:— He nui a tatou tamariki Maori e whai ana i tenei mahi. E marama ana te huarahi e taea atu ai tera mahi, ara me matua pahi ki te School Certificate, me te tiwhiketi hoki a te Takuta mo te ora o tona tinana. Ka pahi ki enei, ka haere ki mua i tetahi Komiti Whiriwhiri, ma ratou ki te Kura mo nga mahita (Training College) mo nga tau e rua. Otira ko enei mahita mo nga Kura tuatahi ara Primary Schools. Engari tera atu ano tetahi ahua mahita kura mo nga Kura Teitei (High Schools) Me matua pahi enei ki te (University Entrance) Ko te huarahi atu tera ki nga whare Wananga o te pakeha (Universities) kia riro mai nga taitara e tika ana ka ahei te haere hei mahita mo nga Kura Teitei (High Schools). Tino ruarua nga Maori kua tae atu ki tera taumata mahi ai. work offering and the skill required for each job. The school teachers also help as they know the capabilities each child has shown at school. Parents, too, have a big part to play. They should not leave it to the schools to teach the children everything. The home gives the child's first schooling; the mother is its first teacher. For this reason do not be backward or apathetic about teaching children what they need to enable them to absorb more readily the knowledge of the pakeha. If parents have some matters which they wish to discuss with Vocational Guidance officers about their children, they should not be afraid to come to see us. Together we can decide what is best. There are still a number of parents who do not know the methods by which the Government can help their children finish their secondary education or win University Entrance. If parents do not come to us, we cannot help them; but it must always be remembered that the child has the final word. If the job is not to his liking, he will leave it. SOME JOBS School Teaching: Quite a number of Maori youths are taking up school teaching. The steps required are quite clear. The School Certificate examination must be passed, and a doctor's certificate of fitness is required. The young man or woman then goes before a selection committee, on whose recommendation he or she may be admitted to Training College for two years. However, this applies to primary school teachers only. High school teachers must pass University Entrance Examination, attend the Universities, and study for degrees and diplomas. Very few Maoris have taken up this advanced type of school teaching. Office Work: There are at present a number of Maoris employed in offices. The qualification required is the school certificate, but it is also possible to obtain work of this nature after three or four years of high school without school certificate. Most office workers are girls. Personal appearance, poise, good dress sense, and good address are important as well as capacity to do the work. There are two types of office work for girls: (1) Office Assistant: These should have school certificate if they are to receive the maximum salary at the start. They need not know typing or shorthand. (2) Shorthand Typist: There is a number of examinations in this category, commencing with Chamber of Commerce, Junior Government,

(2) Maihi Tari:— Kanui ano hoki a tatou tamariki kei nga Tari e mahi ana i naianei, Ko te whakamatautauranga e tika ana mo tenei mahi ko te (School Certificate) ano. Engari tera ano etahi ahua mahi Tari e taea atu e te toru ki te wha tau i te Kura Teitei ahakoa kore e pahi ki te School Certificate. He kotiro te iwi nui kei tenei mahi, engari kei te ahua ano ra o te tamaiti, kia pai te tu, kia mohio ki te mau kakahu, kia pai te reo ki te korero, kia u hoki ki te mahi. Ma nga kotiro, e rua nga ahua mahi Tari. (1) Office Assistant: Ko nga mea enei e tika ana kia pahi ki te School Certificate kia timata tonu atu ai i te utu nui. Ko nga mea enei kahore i ako ki te Shorthand me te typing. (2) Shorthand Typist: Tera ano nga whakamatautauranga e tika ana mo tenei karangatanga. Timata atu i te Chamber of Commerce, Junior Government, Senior Government, Intermediate, tae noa atu ki te runga rawa ara Special. (3) Mahi Naahi: Kua puta nga korero whakamihi a te pakeha mo te pai me te mohio o a tatou kotiro Maori ki tenei mahi. Ko nga pakeha nei he turoro no nga Hohipera. Kei te piki haere tonu te kaute o nga naahi Maori i naianei. Kahore e kiia ana me pahi rawa ki tetahi whakamatautau ka whiwhi ki tenei mahi, engari ma te whakaaro noa ake e mohio, ki te tutuki tika te kotiro i te kura, ka mama te riro mai o nga tiwhiketi o tera mahi. Kia tekau ma waru nga tau ka timata ki taua mahi. Tera ano ia tetahi mahi ma nga mea e hiahia ana ki te timata i te tekau ma ono tau. Ko te ingoa o tera he Nurse Aid ara he kura te nuinga o te mahi, mo te tae rawa atu ai ki te 18 tau, kua pai te, haere atu ki nga Hohipera tuturu. (4) Mahi Kamura, Motoka me etahi atu mahi a-ringaringa: Ko te nuinga o enei mahi, kia rua tau ki nga Kura Teitei ka taea atu, engari kaua e nuku atu nga tau o te Tamaiti i te 18. Mehemea me haere atu ia i tona kainga ki taua mahi, ka awhinatia te utu o tona noho e te Kawanatanga e £65 i te tau. Engari ko te Ture mo ratou me haere ki nga Kura po e rua taima i te wiki, kia tere ai te pahi ki nga Whakamatautau me nga Tiwhiketi o te mahi. (5) Nga Mahi Tereina: Tera pea e kite ana koutou i te nui o a tatou tamariki Maori e mahi ana i runga i nga tereina me nga Teihana. Ko te nuinga o nga mea kei Akarana nei e mahi ana, i haere atu i tenei Tari. Ko etahi kei nga Tari, ko etahi Senior Government, Advanced. Special, and the top, which is Reporters. Nursing: Because of the good work Maori girls have done in this sphere they have been praised highly by hospital patients. The number of Maori nurses is still increasing. It is not necessary to pass any particular examination to enter this type of work, but a little thought will show that the better you are at school the easier it is to pass the necessary examinations in nursing. You may start this type of work on reaching the age of 18. At 16 years of age you may become a nursing aid. A two-year training course follows, after which trainees are ready to go out to hospitals. Carpenters, Motor Mechanics and other Trades: Most of these jobs require only two years at high school, but the entry age should not be more than 18. If an apprentice has to live away from home to learn his trade, he is paid up to £65 a year by the Government. Apprentices must attend night school at least twice a week so they can pass the required trade examinations. New Zealand Railways: Perhaps you have noticed the number of Maori youths working on the trains and in the railway stations. Most of those in the Auckland area have been employed through this office. Some are in the offices, some are porters, some are guards, and others drive engines. This type of work appeals to young Maoris and they are very adaptable to it. Those working in the offices require three to your years' secondary education, though not necessarily with school certificate. Other branches require a minimum qualification of Standard 6. It is probably for this reason that so many take us railway work. STORY OF PROGRESS These are all the jobs I will outline at the moment. But if anyone wishes to know more about a career for his or her children, please call or write. It is not only brains that lead to a permanent job. It is also the way you carry yourself, your address, and your attention to clothes. One of the first things an employer asks when approached over the ‘phone about a vacancy for a Maori is, ‘What does he look like?’ Sometimes it is a pleasure to reply to such a question, sometimes it can be very awkward. Invariably the employer would say, ‘Send him up, and let us have a look at him.’ This is something that the parents, especially the mother, can look after.

he Poata, he Kaari, he kai taraiwa hoki i nga Iniana. He mahi ngahau enei ki te tamariki Maori, he pai hoki ratou mo enei mahi. He mahi mama enei ki te riro mai, ko nga mea anake e mahi ana i nga Tari, kia toru ki te wha tau ki nga Kura Teitei ka ahei, ahakoa kahore i paahi ki te School Certificate. Ko etahi mai o nga mahi ka uru noa atu i te St. VI i nga Primary Schools. Na tera ahua pea i nui ai ratou ki reira. Kaati nga mahi hei whakaatu ake i tenei wa. Otira mehemea e hiahia ana etahi kia mohio ki te ahuatanga o nga mahi huahua ma a taton tamariki, kua whakaaturia atu i mua ake nei, me haere mai me tuhi mai ranei. Engari kia mahara ano, ehara i te mea ma te matauranga anake e riro mai ai nga mahi pumau, engari ma te ahua tonu o te tu, o te haere, o te korero, ma te tau hoki ki te mau kakahu. Tetahi o nga patai tuatahi a nga rangatira mahi ina korerotia atu i te waea he Maori e hiahia ana ki te mahi:—‘Pehea tona ahua ki te titiro atu?’ ‘What does he look like?’ Sometimes it is a pleasure to reply to such a question, sometimes it can be very awkward. Invariably the employer would say: ‘Send him up, and let us have a look at him or her.’ Ko te wahi tenei ma nga matua, ara ma nga whaea. He nui rawa atu nga Maori kei Akarana nei e mahi ana ki nga Tari pakeha, engari ko te nuinga kei nga Tari Kawanatanga, haunga ia era e mahi mai ra i Poneke me etahi atu o nga taone nuuni o te motu. I korero ake ai ahau mo Akarana, he rereke no naianei i te wa i timata ai ahau. I te tau 1943 he ruarua rawa atu nga Maori e mahi Tari ana i tua atu i nga mea e mahi ana i te Tari Maori. I naianei he Maori kei roto i te nuinga o nga Tari Kawanatanga, me nga Toa nunui o Akarana. Ko etahi na o ratou mahita kura tonu i whiwhi ai, engari ko te nuinga i haere atu i tenei Tari. Ko nga tamariki whai whakaaro kanui te u ki a ratou mahi, ko etahi e kore e roa kua timata te hianga, ka whakarere kino i nga mahi. He korero tuturu tenei naku ki a ratou i mua atu i te haerenga ki nga mahi, ‘E hoha koe ki to mahi, korerotia mai, maku koe e ata whakamutu pai, e rapu hoki he mahi hou mau. Kanui te kaha o etahi pakeha ki te titiro i te ahua o to mahi. Mehemea he pai koe ki te mahi, kua pai katoa te iwi Maori, mehemea he kino, kua kino katoa te iwi Maori, ko to taua rereke tenei i te pakeha. Ahakoa whakarere kino te pakeha i tana mahi, kahore ia e arai ana i etahi atu pakeha ki taua mahi. Na reira, e tamariki ma kia mahara, e whiwhi koe ki te mahi, kei runga te iwi Maori katoa i a koe e waha ana. (Continued on page 58) When I first started at Vocational Guidance in 1943, very few Maoris were working in offices apart from those of the Maori Affairs Department. Nowadays there are Maoris in most government departments, in private offices, and in the big stores. In some cases school teachers were responsible for their employment, but mostly the recruitment was done through Vocational Guidance and the Maori Affairs Department. Some young people, those who look ahead, are stayers in their jobs, while others soon tire of their work and leave without giving proper notice. One of my regular warnings to people seeking employment is, ‘If you should tire of the work, let me know, and I will arrange for the proper termination of your job and find you other employment.’ The younger generation should remember that the fate of the Maori people rests on their shoulders. SCHOOL VISITS School visits are an important part of the work of a Vocational Guidance officer. The Auckland District reaches from Te Kao High School in the North to Te Kaha in the East, to Taumarunui in the South, and Kawhia in the West. The rest of the North Island is under the Wellington district. Our work is to interview pupils who are nearing the end of their schooling, pointing out the various callings for which they are suitable, and answering questions. A number of Maori youths and girls have been guided into employment in this way. We also wish to meet parents in each area. Welfare Officers of the Maori Affairs Department have a timetable showing the dates of their visits to each area. One thing I am sorry we cannot do is visit primary schools. They are not on the timetable, because so many high schools have to be visited in the time available each year. Only one or two of the very large primary schools can be included. I am very pleased about the increase in the number of Maori children at public high schools. In some places the Maori pupils exceed the pakehas, and quite a few are head prefects, not only because they are good foot-ballers, but because they are good scholars. MAORI WELFARE OFFICERS I would like to thank Maori Welfare Officers for their zeal in assisting parents to interview us about their children. Some of the officers accompany us when we interview school children, and this is a great help, as they usually know the parents. Welfare officers also help in job problems at times when it is not possible to consult the Vocational Guidance Service.