› Ako Whakaruruhau – Implementing and evaluating good practice for Māori trade training

PROJECT

Ako Whakaruruhau – Implementing and evaluating good practice for Māori trade training

Supporting learners, Māori learner success, Workplace learning, Strategic Leadership and Change, Teacher professional development, Vocations and Trades, Mātauranga Māori, Māori learning/teaching pedagogies, Tikanga Māori, Te Reo Māori, Kaupapa Māori, Values-based learning Architecture and Building

Completed

Completed: 6 December 2016

An action research project to enhance success for Māori by supporting organisations to address internal cultural competency and good practice for Māori in trades training. A collaboration of Ihi Research, Hawkins Construction, Te Tapuae o Rehua and Ako Aotearoa.

Aims:

The primary aim of the project was to implement Te Ako Tiketike, an evidence based theory model, and identify its outcomes for learners, as well as the mechanisms, systems and structures required to implement the model.

Methodology:

This project implemented the model Te Ako Tiketike - Māori as Successful Workplace Learners at Hawkins Construction and the He Toki ki te Mahi Group Training Scheme.

The project:

focused on learning pathways to bring about an organisational focus on Māori apprenticeship success
analysed apprentice support practices for Māori in apprentices
provided systems support and guidelines for Hawkins Construction
developed a set of resources designed to support the development of a positive learning environment for Māori apprentices
looked at integrating knowledge of mentoring and learning, as well as raising awareness about the importance of cultural knowledge on site.

Dr Catherine Savage

Ihi Research

Nancy McConnell

Hawkins Construction

Laura Clifford

Hawkins Construction

Eruera Tarena

Te Tapuae o Rehua

Kym Hamilton

Te Tapuae o Rehua

Hemi Inia

Te Tapuae o Rehua

Mathias Pitama

Te Tapuae o Rehua

Andrew Confait

Hawkins Construction

Porsha London

Te Tapuae o Rehua

Completed

$300,000.00 (excl GST)

$150,000.00 National Project Fund

$150,000.00 Te Tapuae o Rehua

Next section: Insights and Impacts

Key Findings

Findings related to mentoring and Māori apprentices

Sub-contractor variability adds complexity to the implementation of support initiatives.
Raising awareness in the sector brought about a demand for new learning.
Stereotyping and deficit attitudes about Māori were evident and embedded.
High staff turnover and change impacts on relationships – the provision for the mentor needs to be ongoing but not always on site.
The ability to recognise and respond to cultural difference needs to be a part of the culture of the organisation.
Where possible, placing Māori apprentices to work together is best.
Providing apprentices with leadership opportunities positively impacts their performance.

Key Recommendations

Recommendations for companies supporting apprentices

Your company’s leadership must be strong and committed to supporting and enhancing diversity and organisational change.
The culture of your organisation needs to be open to supporting change.
Connections with iwi and mana whenua will strengthen your initiatives with your Māori apprentices.
Your businesses need to be prepared to address deficit attitudes.
Creating a project culture can support positive learning practices and workplace relationships.
Supportive mentoring relationships work.

Next section: Outputs