Role

As Pouako within Te Tairawhiti takiwā, Ra’s role is to support our tauira and team with Te Ao Māori; positive experiences and use of Te Reo Māori for our whānau; support with recognising, labelling and understanding tikanga; marae noho and networking; admin for Te Ahu o Te Reo, me wetahi atu mahi.

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Education Background

Ra joined Te Rito Maioha after working 17 years for another PTE where he thoroughly enjoyed his primary roles as visiting lecturer. Before this he worked 7 years in various roles with The University of Auckland. The highlights were as School Manager for Te Puna Wananga (Epsom) and Office Manager (Equity Office). Prior to moving to Auckland, Ra was with The University of Waikato also for 7 years where he worked in student support and the halls of residence.

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Research Background

Ra’s current research interest focuses on Maori narrative (i.e.: Maui) in relation to children’s learning dispositions. Ra is also particularly interested and curious about mana wahine via Māori goddesses, and their role in shaping Te Ao Māori. Hailing from Te Tairawhiti, Ra grew up in the heart of mana wahine and was privileged to have learned from so many amazing wahine Maori (Ngoi, Whaea, Hine Karaka, Hine Te Ariki, Waiohinga Raukura …).

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Teaching Interests

Ra values a passion for learning and believes that his heart as a teacher must impassion himself so that he may support tauira to embrace their own learning journey. He values co-construction because it aligns well with how he was raised. Ra is thrilled when ‘i taka te kapa’ and tauira are able to lead learning more.

His approach is grounded within Te Ao Māori, Kaupapa Māori simply because ‘ko au he Maori, he Maori awau’. Ra also values elements of all the various curriculum approaches (including Steiner, Montessori, Reggio, Pikler, R.I.E., Kindergarten, Forest Kindy, Kōhanga Reo and Puna Reo …) because they all have elements of the peace curriculum and healing curriculum. This truth reminds Ra that we are educators, we are caregivers, and we are healers.

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Recent Publication

Seve-Williams, N., Rokx, R., Keelan, R., Keighron, C., & Whyte, M. (2017). He Kitenga Korowai: Honouring te reo Māori. He Kupu: The Word, 5 (2), 36-48.

Thomas, T., Rokx, R., & Keelan, R. (2017). Engaging in the spirit of Māori traditions. Exchange, (234), 62-67.

Keelan, R. (2017). He Taonga – a way forward with Te Reo Maori. Proceedings of the World Forum Foundatoin. 170517. https://worldforumfoundation.org/highlights-2017/