He Urunga Tū
He Urunga Tū – An Entrance to Engagement was born out of a challenge for RTLB best practice to:
- reflect the principles of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- be culturally responsive and inclusive
- embed Ka Hikitia – Accelerating Success 2013-20171 and Tātaiako: Cultural Competencies for Teachers of Maori Learners into our practice
- validate and acknowledge the “work before the work” that takes place before RTLB can engage with the Request for Support
- clarify the roles of RTLB, whānau, kaiako and kura through a culturally responsive lens validate and acknowledge the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual domains of the person or people involved
- create a safe working platform for RTLB to conduct themselves in a way where they could be most inclusive and least intrusive
- honour the entire process from the beginning to the end while recognising that every phase of the process is valued.
Ngā Pouwhirinakitanga, who are Māori RTLB working in schools and kura throughout Aotearoa, developed the He Urunga Tū framework. They worked in collaboration with iwi around the country.
The framework emphasises the importance of:
- RTLB being welcomed in to schools and homes as manuhiri (or visitors)
- those provided with support as tangata whenua being valued.
This allows those who are supported to hold on to their mana and to self-determine the pathway forward for them and for their tamariki and mokopuna.
Using this framework RTLB may enable ākonga, kaiako, and whānau self-determination. RTLB are manuhiri who are invited to facilitate, support, and nurture the child through their learning journey.
Ahakoa ko wai, ahakoa nō hea – No matter who they are or where they are from
The He Urunga Tū framework enables RTLB to be effective, inclusive, culturally responsive, and safe in their practice. It guides and supports RTLB to facilitate the process in a manner that is respectful and professional and maintains positive working relationships.
He Urunga Tū – An Entrance to Engagement framework contains key phases that align well with He Pikorua.
| He Urunga Tū | He Pikorua |
| Ngā Whakaritenga / Waharoa & Whakaeke | Whakawhanaungatanga |
| Whaikōrero | Kohikohi |
| Hongi / Kai Ngātahi | Āta whakaaro / Tātai / Whakamahi / Whai whakaaro |
| Whakawātea | Mana Motuhake |
The He Urunga Tū framework uses the analogy of pōwhiri to illustrate that RTLB work in kura is always by invitation to support the ākonga, kaiako, and kura.
He Urunga Tū is about these.
- Tangata Whenua: People of the land. Those who have authority in a particular setting.
- Manuhiri: Anyone new to the setting invited to facilitate, support, and nurture the child through their learning journey.
- Tangata Whenua and Manuhiri may include Mokopuna, Tamaiti, Whānau, Hapū, Iwi, Ākonga, Hāpori, Liaison RTLB, learning support coordinators, school staff, Government, and Non-Government Agencies.
1 Now superceded by the refreshed Maori education strategy Ka Hikitia – Ka Hāpaitia