Conference spotlight falls on education

Leith Comer.

Nga Pumanawa e Waru is hosting its inaugural education conference in the hope it will bring together educators, academics and families to discuss the future of learning in Rotorua.

The conference, Rotorua: A Great Place to Learn, is being held at the Holiday Inn on March 31 and is expected to be attended by about 300 people.

The event is in four sessions - Iwi involvement in education with guest speaker Sir Mason Durie, leadership and a future mindset with Dr Vikram Murthy, Covey's seven habits with Michael Millward and future-focused learning with Brett O'Riley.

The trust's chairman Leith Comer said the conference was targeted at whanau and educators.

"With education conferences like this, often parents and families feel like they can't come but that's not the case at all. We will be discussing ways to give our youth opportunities to grow in future-focussed learning environments and would love to have that discussion with whanau."

Mr Comer was particularly interested in what Sir Mason would be presenting.

Sir Mason is a New Zealand professor of Maori studies and research academic at Massey University. He will speak in session one about ways to get iwi more involved in educating Rotorua youth.

Mr Comer said Nga Pumanawa e Waru believed education was the doorway to opportunity and every child in Rotorua should have access to it.

- To register go to www.npew.org, tickets cost $100 per person.