Ko Tangaroa Ara Rau; nā Cliff Whiting kā whakaahua. Te Wharekura, 1977 (No. 29)
Between 1900 and 1960, the number of Māori fluent in te reo had decreased from 95 - 25%, a plight exacerbated by educational policies that diminished its importance. Educationalist and community leader Hoani Waititi (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, 1926-1965) responded by creating the Te Rangatahi language series. Identifying the need for supplementary reading material to complement Te Rangatahi, he developed this Māori language school journal, which was designed to focus on perspectives and experiences familiar to Māori students. Through developing Te Wharekura, Waititi also enabled native speakers to become proficient writers of te reo Māori, helping the language to survive. The first issue of Te Wharekura was published by the School Publications Branch of the Department of Education in 1960. Learning Media = Te Pou Taki Kōrero published Te Wharekura from 1989 until its closure in 2013, at which point the journal was discontinued. It showcased some of Aotearoa’s most celebrated Māori writers and artists. Examples of artists’ illustrations are displayed in this case and the next.
Ko Tangaroa Ara Rau; nā Cliff Whiting kā whakaahua. Te Wharekura, 1977 (No. 29)
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