uLearn23 | Presenters

Dr Hana O’Regan is of Kāi Tahu and Pākehā (Irish and Scottish) descent. Raised in Wellington, she moved to Te Waipounamu at 21 as a lecturer at Otago University, and after four years there, shifted to Ōtautahi where she has been based ever since.Hana has worked in the areas of language revitalisation, identity and cultural development, te reo Māori and education for over 30 years. She is a published author and composer and is recognised internationally for her work in indigenous language acquisition and revitalisation. A graduate of Te Panekiretanga – Institute of Excellence in Te Reo Māori, Hana is widely respected for her Māori language contribution, skills and advocacy. Hana’s passion for education and community, history and equity has resulted in a career committed to working with organisations, businesses and individuals to support and enhance positive outcomes for learners and whānau.She is one of the founders of the Kāi Tahu Māori language strategy, Kotahi Mano Kāika, Kotahi Mano Wawata, which was launched by the tribe in 2000 and continues to teach te reo, karaka and composition within her Kāi Tahu community.Hana was appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal in 2021 and has held the position of Tumu Whakarae of Tātai Aho Rau Core Education since late 2020.

Session Description:

Tūhuratia te Iho Pūmanawa | Addressing bias and stereotyping in the practice of streaming

In te reo Māori, tūhura means to discover, disclose, bring to light, unearth, investigate and explore. Iho pūmanawa translates as ‘talent / cleverness / abilities’, but also has a meaning of ‘heartbeat’. Dr Hana O’Regan will shine a light on the whakapapa, mindsets and harm associated with the streaming of learners based on their perceived abilities. Equity by design, a community response to ending streaming, reshaping the narratives and raising expectations for all learners Equity in action: alternative grouping practices for equitable outcomes.

If we are to challenge the system, and ourselves as educators and community influencers, we need to recognise the bias, mindsets and power that drives inequitable outcomes. Hana has investigated the legislation, the policies and reports that have deliberately determined inequities of access and outcomes for marginalised groups, particularly Māori and Pacific learners.

Understanding these mindsets about streaming and the impact on those you teach and their whānau is a first step to designing for equitable outcomes. The presentation shares the results of a recent research project carried out by Te Puna Mātauranga o Whanganui and Tātai Aho Rau to uncover awareness, experiences and narratives about streaming of learners with kaumatua, whānau, rangatahi, kaiako and tumuaki in their rohe.

Ending streaming practices does not mean that there is a void to fill. Powerful equity approaches already exist in the system that impact on learner self-belief, motivation and resilience, together with shifting the equity dial for achievement and future life opportunities. Hana explores our pathway for building educator capability as a fundamental step towards realising the equity goals that we are seeking.

Contexts:

Confronting systemic racism and bias.
Equity capability.
Effective pedagogies.

Session Description:

Holding space for sacred and painful histories

Across the motu educators are beginning to implement Te Takanga o te Wā and the Aotearoa Histories curricula. As we seek to not only understand our past but also teach it, we will be confronted with kaupapa that are sacred and painful. How might we teach historicalempathy in order to grow compassion and understanding? We will travel through 200 years of Aotearoa’s history, both the sacred and the painful, to understand cause and consequence, to help prepare us for meaningful conversations about our past.

Contexts:

• Confronting systemic racism and bias

• Te Takanga o Te Wā | Aotearoa New Zealand’s Histories