Judge lays it on line for Maori youngsters

A TAURANGA judge has dished out some cutting truths to Maori secondary school students in a bid to keep them engaged in education.
Judge Louis Bidois spoke at yesterday's Te Ao Rangatahi "The World of Youth" forum at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, where he said engaging in higher education was the key to avoiding a life of hardship.
Sixty Western Bay teenagers attended the event, which was organised by the polytechnic at the request of local high schools.
The day was aimed at Maori students who require direction and motivation.
The students spent the day learning from an invited panel of guest speakers, including Judge Bidois, who presides over the district and youth court.
It has previously been reported that while 66 per cent of Asian and 44 per cent of European students leave school with University Entrance and/or Level 3 NCEA, only 20 per cent of Pacific and 18 per cent of Maori students currently gain these qualifications.
Judge Bidois said it was important students did not sell themselves short, as everyone had equal opportunities at school.
"You can achieve and do everything you want if you try," he said.
"I sit in the youth court and 80 per cent of those youth are not at school.
"They have drug or alcohol problems and are mostly Maori. The fact you are at school increases your chances of keeping out of trouble."
Judge Bidois said he had represented more than 10,000 people during his career and it was a poignant reminder of why education mattered.
"Murderers, rapists, robbers. Some pretty bad low lives, and every one of them when I got to talking to them about their life, blamed lack of education for their predicaments.
"They hadn't been interested at school, they couldn't keep a job, they were bored, started drinking, picking on people . . . into gangs, doing time. It's a sad, sad state of affairs."
Judge Bidois said he himself had faced challenges as a youngster, but all obstacles could be overcome.
Growing up Ngongataha in a working class family, Judge Bidois was the first on both sides of his whanau to attend university.
"Ngongataha was a place where there was a butter factory when I was growing up, and the biggest timber factory in the country. There was a lot of labour and work there. But both closed, and people lost jobs and had no work.
" It was a hard place to live," he said.
He left Ngongataha to go to Auckland University and later returned to work as a lawyer in Rotorua. He worked in a firm of three, all were Maori, and two became judges, including himself.
Judge Bidois said everything was possible with hard work and determination.
Nowdays many jobs are automated, and manual labour opportunities less.
"So you need a career, otherwise you're not going to have many job opportunities . . . don't be in a hurry to leave school because you've got a long, long time in the workforce," he said.
"Don't sell yourself short . . . it's important you think of yourself as someone who is representing yourself, your whanau, your hapu . . . and ultimately New Zealand."
Judge Bidois cautioned students off engaging in drugs, and drinking to excess, which he said could have "destructive" effects.
Tame Kuka, principal of Tauranga's only total immersion Maori high school, Te Wharekura o Mauao, said he had every confidence in today's Maori students but agreed "statistics don't lie".
He said it was his view Maori succeeded better in smaller class sizes and with Maori teachers who "role-modelled" excellence.
"They have that Maori humour, and intimacy with what is going on around the district, and knowing who's who."
Mr Kuka said he supported Massey University Professor Mason Durie's philosophy, that Maori did not have to change who they are to be outstanding.
TE AO RANGATAHI
WHAT: Te Ao Rangatahi "The World of Youth" forum.
PURPOSE: To engage Maori youth in education; and is a prelude to the Tauranga Careers Expo this Sunday and Monday at the QEII Centre.
SPEAKERS: Judge Louis Bidois, Career consultant for Career Services Herewini Insley, Master navigator and Sport Bay of Plenty Maori sports co-ordinator Jack Thatcher, Oceania Light Welterweight Kelly Woolrich.