Whenua Kura Whenua Kura is a Ngāi Tahu led partnership between Te Tapuae o Rehua, Ngāi Tahu Farming and Lincoln University, which seeks to grow Māori leadership in agriculture. Students learn how to apply mātauranga Māori and Ngāi Tahu values to farming, achieve Lincoln University qualifications and practical experience on Ngāi Tahu farms.
“Ngāi Tahu has set its sights high and we need our future Māori farm leaders to do the same.”
A pōwhiri marked the commencement of studies for the first cohort of Whenua Kura students in August 2014. The students, ranging in age from 18-28 years old, received fullfee scholarships at the event.
“It’s quite a unique initiative and innovative in the way we are delivering the programme. It’s about dairy training in a Māori context and training up our people to be managers of their family farm.”
A second cohort of students will commence studies in 2015.
The Whenua Kura Programme is open to all Māori.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Tuarua Lisa Tumahai says the programme will train graduates to farm the land in a way that is best practice, upholds Ngāi Tahu values and sustains the environment for future generations.
For further information visit: www.whenuakura.co.nz
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Lincoln University Assistant Vice Chancellor (Communities) and Professor of Indigenous Planning Hirini Matunga says Whenua Kura is helping to link Ngāi Tahu people and Māori people to their land through the industry of dairy farming. Liam Henry-Tikao and Papataitua Harrington are among the first cohort of students to commence Whenua Kura, the agricultural training programme run in partnership by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Te Tapuae o Rehua, Ngāi Tahu Farming and Lincoln University. Both commute to the Eyrewell farms from Christchurch every workday. Milking, weighing calves, weaning the calves, weeding, feeding out silage and many other tasks form part of their daily activity. “We do the course work out at the farms,” says Papa. “There is a classroom that is out here
also and we have classes two days a week and cultural day on Wednesday.” Papa says he had done a little bit of farming via school gateway programmes but this is his first full-time farming programme. “I was talking to family friends and they told me about the programme. After completing the course I would like to work here and work my way up to managing a farm.” Liam says he is thoroughly enjoying the programme. “We are fortunate to be obtaining a qualification and getting on-the-job experience at the same time; it’s the best of both worlds.” 55