Dr Diane Mara, Faculty of Education, University of Auckland
Teu Le Va: Spaces for collaboration in Pasifika early childhood education in Aotearoa
Diane Mara is currently Academic Leader Pasifika ECE in the Faculty of Education, University of Auckland. She is Programme Leader for the Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) Pasifika Specialisation, supervises masters and postgraduate Pasifika students, and continues to engage in research in Pasifika education. Diane has had over 30 years experience as a teacher, lecturer, policy analyst, and researcher. Her doctoral studies investigated Pacific women graduates in tertiary education and the social construction of ethnic identities.
Her published work in Pasifika early childhood education and in Pasifika research methodologies is well-known and used in many undergraduate teacher education courses. Whilst working at NZCER (2003-2006) as a Senior Researcher Diane worked with Linda Mitchell on major early childhood research projects such as the Evaluation of the ECE Strategic Plan, Uses of Equity Funding and Quality in Parent & Whanau-led services. Increasingly Diane is sought after as a peer-reviewer, examiner and supervisor of theses in the field of Pasifika education: early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary. In 2009, Diane was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Pacific women and to Pacific education.
Keynote presentation (*.ppt)
Workshop presentation (*.ppt)
Keynote presentation audio recording (*.mp3)
Keynote abstractThe concept/tenet/practice of Teu Le Va in Pasifika education, research, policy and educational practice represents collaborative, reciprocal relationships and the nurturing and acting out of these by all stakeholders - families, communities, teachers, researchers and policy-makers. There are evident synergies between the principles and strands of Te Whaariki and Teu Le Va and these are explored within the broader theme of the conference - Teachers and Learners, exploring the spaces in-between.
The va/va/va'a/vaha is a pan-Pacific notion describing a spatial and relational context within which the unfolding of secular and spiritual relationships can take place. Social, spiritual and relational contexts allow for personal and collective well-being and growth within the process of knowledge generation, social action and cultural transformation.
In Teu Le Va, relationships are given space and valued so that all involved may benefit (Anae, 2007). There are common threads running through early childhood education in Aotearoa New Zealand and Teu le Va. Closer examination of Pasifika early childhood education policy and practice through the Teu Le Va paradigm potentially deepens our understanding about ‘spaces' between teachers and learners; learners and teachers and outwards towards our family whanau communities in Aotearoa.
