A Wellington polytechnic is planning to ask two local tribes to provide cultural advice about supporting Maori students at a new inner city campus.
WelTech has teamed up with Whitireia to develop a new complex, on the corner of the Cuba and Dixon streets in the capital. It will open to tauira in 2018.
WelTech School for Creative Industries head Teriu Lemon said he wanted to make sure the campus' cultural foundations were right before it opened and planned to talk to Te Atiawa and Ngati Toa.
Discussions would include how it used whakapapa [genealogy] knowledge, tikanga and how they would manage cultural support for tangata whenua who would study at the campus.
Mr Lemon said it made sense to work with both tribes which had an affiliation with the two polytechnics, to provide a clear direction on how to support and teach Maori students.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Institute of Technology is to trial a new qualification aimed at training marae cooks.
The Level 3 National Certificate in Hospitality will be delivered at Te Aranga Marae and Pukemokimoki Marae in Hawke's Bay from the end of next month.
The 18-week pilot programme will teach students the basics of cooking for large numbers, including budgeting and portion sizes.
Institute marketing director Brenda Chapman said kaumatua would guide students on the protocol and tikanga for serving food, and would ensure they could welcome manuhiri [guests].
It would become a regular course if it proved a success, Ms Chapman said.
