Couple rapt with Wananga

TE WANANGA O AOTEAROA graduands James and Jeanne Davidson with their children Etere, Winiata and Jordan prior to yesterday’s graduation ceremony. 103061AD

By Dean Taylor

While the general publicity surrounding Te Wananga O Aotearoa continues to be negative, for many students yesterday was a day of celebration and achievement.

Graduating students gathered for their ceremony, amongst them husband and wife team Jeanne and James Davidson. The couple celebrated their success with their children Etere, Winiata and Jordan. Mr Davidson’s uncle and aunt, Estelle and Allan Oliver, also graduated after completing Te Ara Reo Maori level one.

For Mr Davidson both the study and the graduation ceremony were new experiences. A yardman for Timmo’s ITM Building Centre, Mr Davidson graduated with a Certificate in Small Business Management. He says the study is part of his longer term goal to be in business for himself in the future.

Mr Davidson loves working with wood, and apart from his day job, is skilled in making breadboards, bar stools, coffee tables and cabinets from new and recycled rimu. He says the course gave him a valuable insight into how a business runs, and hopefully upskilling will allow him to make the most of an opportunity to be in business when the time is right.

His wife already holds a Bachelor of Teaching after completing the Diploma of Teaching at Palmerston North Teachers College and the degree at Waikato University.

Mrs Davidson has been specialising in Tikanga Maori since graduating, and undertook the Te Wananga O Aotearoa Te Ara Reo Maori Advanced Certificate course to upskill. She currently teaches at Pekerau and Glenview Schools, and says the Wananga course has proved invaluable in her becoming a better teacher. She says the course both extended her academically and inspired her in her own teaching.

As part of her Waikato University degree, Mrs Davidson undertook Te Reo Maori papers to level three, but believes Te Ara Reo Maori has been more valuable to her career.

“The Wananga course definitely measured up against what is on offer through Waikato University,” she says. “I think people need to step up, enrol and experience for themselves the quality of learning available through the Wananga.”

The Davidsons both undertook one year courses for 2005 and managed to work them into busy lives of full-time work and parenthood. Both are keen to continue their study, although plans had to be put on hold for this year. Mrs Davidson had intended to undertake the more intensive Te Tohu Matauranga this year, while her husband assisted more with parenting duties, but a lack of numbers for the higher level course meant it had to be postponed.

She says she will definitely be back when the course is offered.