Māori student teachers leave placement at Hawke's Bay school amid 'whaea' and 'matua' row

Hawke's Bay student teachers Matua Mitchell and Whaea Hutana left a local school for not being allowed to use their te reo names. Photo / Warren Buckland

Two Māori student teachers who allege they were barred from using "Matua" and "Whaea" as their teaching names say the conversation has "torn us apart".

Student teachers Rangi Mitchell and Arihi Raiha Hutana claim Clive School principal Brian Eales told the pair they weren't allowed to be referred to as Matua Rangi and Whaea Arihi while on placement because it was "unprofessional".

Both teachers say they left the placement after being given the ultimatum of being called Mr Mitchell and Miss Hutana, or leaving.

Clive School board of trustees spokeswoman Sarah Beckett said te ao Māori was taken "very seriously" and she would be able to share more information "later in the term".

Hutana said there is often misunderstanding around the meaning of Matua and Whaea.

In the literal sense and English translation, the words mean uncle and aunty, but the Hastings-born student teachers said the references carried greater meaning.

"It's our identity," they said.

Mitchell said the titles help denote a generational gap between the teachers and children, which builds authority.

"As Māori, when we were growing up they were used as terms of endearment, aroha and respect," he said.

"If someone was going to call you Matua or Whaea, you're teaching them something."

Clive School refused to let their new student teachers be referred to as Matua and Whaea. Photo / File

Hutana said she tried to explain to Eales the whakapapa and tikanga around being called Whaea.

Mitchell claimed at the end of the conversation with the principal, Eales had pointed at Hutana and told her to think twice about what she was saying.

"This tore us apart inside on a personal and on a wairua level as well.

''My tipuna heard what he said," Mitchell said.

Ministry of Education deputy secretary sector enablement and support Katrina Casey said the ministry had contacted the school and will provide support as needed.

"The school board is following the correct procedures and is getting the information and guidance needed to address this matter.

"Children recognise these terms and immediately make a connection to who they are, where they're from – with us it creates relationships," she said.

Mitchell and Hutana say they mean no disrespect toward the school.

"I hope that they learn from this and grow."

Hutana encouraged the school to do more research, to visit the local marae and kaumātua and ask about the meaning behind these words and Māori protocol.

The teachers are now on placement at other schools in Hawke's Bay, and say they are referred to as Matua and Whaea without question from the principals.

"For every word in Māori there is much more than just the definition," Mitchell said.