[Sam B]

Hi
I'm arriving at the end of Jan, and start work 2 weeks later around Tokoroa, working in peoples' own homes with young children and their families. I'm horribly aware that I'm going to appear as some white middle class Brit who can't pronounce the place names and knows little about Maori culture to begin with. Has anyone else been in a similar situation who can give me advice or tell me what it was like?
Cheers
Sam

[jodieinchch]

One piece of advice- a common thing people do in the UK is sit on tables- don't do it when working with Maori people. Their culture says that tables are there for food preparations, and that they should not be sat on.

Also: for place names- the 'wh' represents the 'f' sound. The 'au' letters represent a 'oh' sound. Eg. the word whanau- meaning family/close people- is pronounced 'far-no'.

Hope these help. Anything else, be open to the culture. Question about what you want to know and learn if you see the right situation. If you want to learn they will be happy to tell you.

[Carol]

Be open to the culture. Question about what you want to know and learn if you see the right situation. If you want to learn they will be happy to tell you.


So true.

:nice1

[StevieD]

Good advice, like any culture, if you show interest and willing to learn , not only do you enrich your own life, you also make friends. :nice1

[Marco]

I can agree on all of the above and want to wish you succes with your move and job.

However, I have a question: who hired you for this job, because to me it seems a bit strange to hire a 'foreigner' straight from overseas without basic cultural experience in NZ for such roles. And I understand you are a bit unsure yourself as well. I know there are a lot of shortages in this field.

Cheers,
anita

[Sam B]

Hi Anita
The ministry of Education hired me, there obviously aren't enough speech/language therapists around in NZ because I was offered 8 jobs across NZ altogether. My job is not specific to working with Maori families, just that I will be based in area where many families are Maori. I have specialised in working with hard to reach families in Britain, and have worked with people from many cultural backgrounds in Britain, so this is probably why they chose me for the job. I have done lots of reading but it's never the same. I'm just feeling a bit anxious about how I'll be received, and was hoping to hear from anyone else who has been in a similar position. with so many similar jobs on the Long term skills shortage list, I can't be the only person in this position.... can I?
Cheers for all your advice everyone
Sam

[nippa&pippa]

One piece of advice- a common thing people do in the UK is sit on tables- don't do it when working with Maori people. Their culture says that tables are there for food preparations, and that they should not be sat on.



Information send to me from playcentre about respect for maori protocol, try observe the following:

1. Respect for the head, it is tapu. Ruffling the hair of a child is not appropriate.

2. Keep tea towels away from shoulders/head.

3. The morning tea table is used for eating at and for food preparation only.

4. The food preparation area in the kitchen is not used for other purposes eg washing children (done that at my house, oops, got no bath to bathing my daughter :roll ).

5. We do not use food as play items (!!!!), with the exception of standard recipes for play dough, messy play etc.

6. Clean surfaces with the designated cloths e.g. blue for fodd items/surfaces.

Also from another book:
The disposal of human waste into natural waters is extremely offensive to maori cultural and spiritual concerns.

Hope that help!!

[Sam B]

Oooh, very useful as I have been known to ruffle hair or stroke children's heads to calm them down. Also I often use toy food to encourage children to play imaginatively - confused now as to whether that's ok? I suppose best thing to do is to ask, that's what I do now if I'm not sure.

[Ana&Steve]

We stayed a night with a Maori couple on our travels. They seemed to enjoy talking about their lifestyles and weren't offended by honest questions. I remember a few things that might never come up for you, but just in case...

If someone is lying on the ground, don't step over them or pass around their head. Walk around at their feet. The same is true of their cemeteries, but they are laid out so the feet point toward the walkways. Speaking of cemeteries, always wash your hands after leaving; there should be a water source just outside of the exit. Remove your shoes when entering a Mauri. (The couple we stayed with also took their shoes off in the hall before entering the main part of the house, I guess it's a good idea to look for piles of shoes! ;) ) If they want to make you welcome, they may do the hongi, where they press noses with you 3 times while inhaling. My understanding is that it's a bit of an honor, and you would offend if you laughed.

That's all I can remember right now. Congrats on all those job offers, and good luck in NZ!
Ana

[anna_c]

Sam_B, I'm pretty sure there's a distinction between toy food (eg a cake made of plastic) which is ok, and using food as toys, such as making collages using uncooked pasta.

[gil]

Sam B, I found this site helpful for pronounciation http://www.maorilanguage.net/pronounce/index.cfm

I'm sure you will be fine, it's your skills they need not the fact you know everything about all cultures!

Gil

[Sam B]

Cheers Gil, that'sa what I needed to hear.