Ko wai koe, ā, nō hea koe? Who are you, where are you from?
Ko Riley Te Riini tōku ingoa, he uri tēnei ō Te Arawa waka, ō Tūwharetoa Ki Kawerau, ō Ngāti Awa me Ngāti Porou. Ko au te Ringa Aro Ahurea o Ringa Hora. I tipu ake au i te rohe o te Manawatū, ki te Papaioea, ā, he raukura mai i Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Manawatū, i kuraina hoki au ki te kura o Raukura i Rotorua. I tēnei wā, e noho ana mātou ko tōku whānau i raro i te maru o te Awa Tupua, ki Whanganui.
My name is Riley Te Riini, he uri tēnei ō Te Arawa waka, ō Tūwharetoa Ki Kawerau, ō Ngāti Awa me Ngāti Porou. I am the Māori Qualifications and Quality Assurance advisor. I grew up in Palmerston North and attended Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Manawatū, before finishing school at Raukura (Rotorua Boys’ High School) in Rotorua. Now, I reside and work from Whanganui.
Describe your role
He nui ngā mahi, tokomaha ōku pōtae. Ko tāku mahi, hei taringa, hei karu, hei waha mō Ngāi Māori o roto mai i ngā āhuatanga o te mātauranga e hāngai ana ki ngā ahumahi ‘Ratonga’.
Ko tāku mahi ki te taha o te team Tohu Mātauranga, he tirohia ki ngā ‘Ratonga’ tohu mātauranga, kia āpiti atu i te mātauranga Māori hei ārahi, hei akiaki, hei tautoko i ngā kaupapa Māori i roto i ēnei o ngā mahi, arā ko te reo Māori me ōna tikanga, ko te whakaaro me te mātauranga Māori ki ngā tohu e tika ana, me te hāpai i tō mātou ngā takohanga ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Ko taku mahi ki te taha Whakaū Kounga, he arotake i ngā hōtaka ako o ngā Wāhi Ako, ā, he whakamana mehemea e tika ana te whakaraupapa o ngā āhuatanga Māori o roto.
I have an interesting role, and like many Māori across the Public services in these roles, wear multiple hats, though this role in particular is to provide a ‘Māori lens’ across Qualifications and Quality Assurance work pertaining to the Services Industries. To keep it semi-short:
In Qualifications, it is my job to advise that our ‘products’ (Qualifications, standards, micro-credentials), are relevant, up to date and include the correct content when it comes to reo, tikanga, whakaaro and mātauranga Māori where applicable as well as ensuring our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi is also correct and present.
In Quality Assurance, it is my job to ensure our Māori considerations are met with the endorsement of Provider Programmes and to also offer guidance and/or advice to providers/industry regarding reo, tikanga, whakaaro and mātauranga Māori.
Ka tautoko pēhea nei ō mahi i te hunga Māori i roto i te wāhanga Ratonga? How does this support Māori in the service sector?
Ko te tūmanako, ko ēnei mahi āku ka kitea rawatia i ngā tohu Mātauranga he whakangāwari ake i te āheitanga o te hunga ako ki ngā āhuatanga Māori, ā, hei tautoko hoki i te mōhiotanga o te hunga ako ki te kiko o ngā tohu. Koirā ka tahi.
Ka rua, ko te whakarite tohutohu, ko te whakarite taunaki, ko te ārahi i ngā wāhi ako, me ngā ahumahi huri noa i Aotearoa hei painga mō Ngāi Māori me ngā wāhi ako, ahumahi anō hoki.
Firstly, my hope is that the work I am doing is reflected in our products, ensuring that the language, terminology and thinking used, allows for easier accessibility and that the content is easier to understand for learners. Secondly, my intention is that the advice, recommendations, and guidance I can provide to providers/industries across Aotearoa is for the betterment of Māori and for themselves.
He aha koe e rata ana ki ō mahi? What do you enjoy about your mahi?
He nui ngā painga o tāku mahi! Ka taku tino, he awhi, he tautoko i ngā tāngata, ngā wāhi ako, me ngā ahumahi i ō rātou hiahia ki te whakapai tukanga, kaupapa here, tikanga rānei hei painga mō ngā ākonga Māori. Me te mea hoki, he rawe ki ahau te whānau o Ringa Hora, ā, he whānau manaaki, he whānau tautoko i ngā wāhanga Ratonga.
I enjoy a lot about my mahi! One of my favourites is being able to assist, or support people, providers and/or industries who are wanting to improve their procedures, policies or customs for the betterment of ākonga Māori. Also, I really enjoy working here at Ringa Hora where people practice what they preach, manaakitanga, which is imperative to the Services Sectors.
He aha koe e poho kererū ana koe i ō mahi? What are you most proud of with your mahi?
He kaitaunaki ahau mō te iwi Māori i roto i tēnei tūranga. E whakanui ana au i taku tipuranga i te Kura Kaupapame te Wānanga, ā, ka oha ōku pūkenga ki te ao ako.
That I am able to advocate for Māori in this role. I am able to acknowledge my upbringing through Kura Kaupapa and Wānanga and return my skillset to the world of learning.
He aha te painga a tō mahi me ngā tāngata? What do you like most about the people you deal with as part of your mahi?
E ngākaunui nui ana te nuinga o ngā tāngata ki te reo Māori me ōna tikanga, ki te mātauranga Māoriki roto i ō rātou akoranga. E arohanui ana au ki te hunga e manawanui ana ki ngā āhuatanga Māori. Ka hāngai pū taku tautoko ki a rātou.
Most of the people I have had the pleasure of interacting with are very keen and eager to incorporate the gifts of our reo, tikanga and/or mātauranga Māori into their learning environments. I love to see people making an effort and will go out of my way to help those who ask.
