Faculty of Education celebrates 10th anniversary of Sonny Riini Memorial Scholarships
18 September 2008
Two Manukau residents—one Samoan, one Māori—were honoured this week as the recipients of this year’s Sonny Riini Memorial Scholarships at The University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education.
The scholarships are given annually to two University of Auckland students who are enrolled at, and demonstrate excellence in, the Faculty’s Bachelor of Education (Teaching): Te Huarahi Māori specialisation pathway.
A respected Tūhoe elder and educator, Sonny Riini was Kaumatua of the former Auckland College of Education, now the University’s Faculty of Education. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the scholarships, which were established in Sonny’s honour after his death in 1998.
Vanhou Lolesio, a New Zealand-born Samoan, said she was nervous about applying for the scholarship and only put in her application at the last minute. She says she would encourage anyone who wants to be a teacher to enrol in the programme.
"I didn’t speak te reo so I started in the Faculty’s Foundation programme before I joined the Huarahi Māori pathway. When I graduate, I will have four choices in terms of where I can teach—in Māori immersion, English language, Samoan language and bilingual schools. I would say to anyone who is passionate about te reo and making a difference in Māori, enrol in this programme and go for it," says the 21-year-old Vanhou.
For Les Tepania (Ngāti Kahu), the Huarahi Māori pathway offered an escape from "dissatisfying jobs" and a chance to turn his love of teaching into a formal degree.
"I am the first one of my family to come to University, so I see this as a way of breaking the cycle, of paving a new way of learning for my family," says the 38-year-old father of three. "I’ve done a lot of jobs that include some kind of teaching—umpiring, coaching, leadership jobs- and now I can use those skills toward a valuable and respected qualification," he says.
Associate Dean - Māori, Tony Trinick, says that over the past decade the Sonny Riini scholarships have both inspired and enabled Te Huarahi Māori graduates to develop and share their knowledge of Māori language, culture and traditions in classrooms around the country.
"‘Pāpā Sonny’, as he was known, had a vision for the way te reo Māori is taught, learned and understood. He recognised the importance of effective teaching practices and the skills needed to pass on the many facets of Māoridom. These awards give our students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a Māori medium pathway and thus help realise the vision of their benefactor."
As of next year, the scholarships will be renamed the Sonny and Mona Riini Memorial Scholarships, in recognition of both Sonny and his wife Mona’s joint contributions to Māori education.
Te Huarahi Māori is a three-year degree programme underpinned by te reo Māori, tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori. The degree prepares teachers to teach in immersion, bilingual and English medium classrooms. For more information visit www.tepuna.auckland.ac.nz or to enrol phone (09) 623 8883. Scholarships for this programme of up to $30,000 are also available through TeachNZ.
