Commonwealth fellowship goes to Wanganui Maori adviser

Tu Tangata, Issue 13, 1 August 1983, Page 16

Commonwealth fellowship goes to Wanganui Maori adviser

He kupu whakamihi/Profile

Through the Tu Tangata Magazine’s network of contacts we have managed to discover a story that reveals one of the few scholarships, as in previous issues, where Maori academics have gained recognition. The Commonwealth Relations Trust Fellowship is available annually to two New Zealanders to spend an academic year of study at London University. The recipient of one of these awards this year'is Mr Wally Penetito.

Mr Penetito is presently living in Wanganui and has been in the position as Maori Education Adviser in this district since 1976. Formerly of Waharoa and Hinuera, Wally is of Ngati Haua, Waikato descent.

The fellowship offers the “educationally minded scholar” the chance to study some specific topic of interest. Wally still feels very modest about being labelled a scholar but is definitely thrilled about the attention and opportunity available to pursue his academic interests.

His formal education was begun in the Matamata district and Waharoa and Piarere Primary schools, continued at Ardmore Teachers College, and followed through to Massey University.

Mr Penetito began as an extra-mural student at Massey in 1971. Although he’s only been in handy travelling distance from Massey for the past six years, he began his Bachelor of Arts studies whilst teaching in the Bay of Plenty at Waioeka Primary. Both he and his Scottish wife Sheena raised their family in the Whakatohea district having previously taught and married in Otara, Auckland.

The Penetito family went to live in Essex, England, when Wally won an exchange teaching position for the year beginning 1973. Now, another decade later, with an older family ranging from eleven to eighteen years, more plans to accompany Dad overseas are in the making.

Mr Penetito’s present job along with Mr Sonny Mikaere has meant some definite changes in introducing new learning schemes for both English and Maori language in the local schools. Their efforts to promote an improved standard of language teaching in Wanganui-Taranaki schools have proved successful in the local Maori and education community.

Wally’s masterate was in the field of applying Sociology of education to Maori education. He has managed to

keep both areas of study as a personal interest, at university, as well as using the same material in his job. He wants to learn about the similarities and differences of the British state education system adapting to fit other cultures as compared with New Zealand. New Zealand has already made it clear, separate development for the Maori is not the answer and only now are we seeing considerable changes in promoting Maori language in the curriculum. These, and similar changes have occurred in recent years because of pressures from a growing concern that all is not well in New Zealand inspite of many peoples belief that our races live in harmony. Slow progress and constant increase of pressure has forced New Zealand society to accept changes. Wally wants to examine how other countries have ‘dealt’ with, or adapted their education system to fit other minority cultures that today are desperate to seek identity and recog-

nition of their differences. At the moment, the academic year begins in London in October 1983 to July ’B4. Accompanying Dad in September is the oldest daughter Kim who is presently registered as a job seeker. Despite being unemployed she does a great deal of writing which she thoroughly enjoys and in fact has a modest hope to pursue journalism as a future career. Grant is 15 and sits School Certificate at the end of the year. Dougal is the potiki, at 12 years and is at the local intermediate. Both boys will be travelling over to the U.K. with Sheena Penetito at the end of school 1983. Sheena is Senior Teacher of Junior Classes at Kiwi Street Primary in Wanganui. She is intending to take leave for the year from her teaching position. So this Christmas instead of spending time at home with Nan in the Hinuera Valley, it looks like the Penetitos could be experiencing a hangi in Hyde Park.