Manaia View School principal Leanne Otene will join leading Australian and international indigenous educators at a ground-breaking conference in Australia on behalf of Aka Tokerau (Northland Maori Principals Association).
The More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers Initiative (MATSITI) is a national project the Australian Government has committed $9.5 millionto, in order to grow indigenous teacher numbers and develop leadership.
This is the first conference of its kind in Australia and it is based around developing successful pathways into teaching, promoting education and career development.
Mrs Otene is one of three international speakers invited to take part. Unesco chair of teacher education, Professor Konai Thaman and Australian Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett, a former singer in the band Midnight Oil, will be speaking as well.
Mrs Otene is an executive member of Aka Tokerau, an organisation made up of 45 Northland Maori principals and said the conference is a chance to share the work Aka Tokerau has achieved.
"There are fewer numbers of Aboriginal teachers in Australia compared to Maori teachers here in New Zealand. The conference is a chance to show how Aka Tokerau supports its principals and how we have grown capability and leadership in our schools," said Mrs Otene.
She said Aka Tokerau is a successful model of growing strong Maori leadership.
"If we can support our indigenous brothers across the ditch, then all the better."
Aka Tokerau president Robert Clark said it is a great honour to have someone representing them and their work at the conference.
"We've been rocking along for seven or eight years and have built a strong base and a good reputation within Northland, our members and the national executive. MATSITI were very interested in our governance and management, support and networks.
"Leanne is a great, experienced teacher and we know she will be strong, prepared and professional."
Mrs Otene said she is humbled to have been asked to speak and looks forward to sharing her experience as a principal and as a mentor.
She said by sharing teaching experiences and working to build developmental strategies, hopefully more indigenous Australians will be encouraged to enter the education sector.
