Wednesday, 17 March 2010
TE Korowai Aroha o Aotearoa, a national non-government Maori education and training agency based in Whakatane, is turning over several new leaves at once.
The organisation’s new developments include the appointment of a new chief executive and a new board chairwoman as well as the attainment of international quality management standards.
Te Korowai Aroha is also celebrating some notable achievements of its staff members including one who has been invited to attend an international workshop by the Kettering Foundation of America.
Wheturangi Walsh, formerly a lecturer in social work at Massey University, has been appointed as Te Korowai Aroha’s new pouarahi (chief executive).
Ms Walsh’s accomplishments are widely known in academic and social work circles and include research on social policy and social work with a focus on Maori whanau.
This year she was awarded a three month fellowship with the United Nations based in New York, in the human rights area awarded a three-month indigenous fellowship with the United Nations, based at the Office for High Commissioner of Human Rights in Geneva, Switerland.
She has worked with such noted academics as Dr Mason Durie and Whatarangi Winiata, and is proud of her Ngati Raukawa and Te Atiawa heritage, having a longstanding involvement with the Whare Wananga o Raukawa as well as her many marae and hapu.
Ms Walsh will be succeeding Jozie Karanga (Whakatohea/Ngai Tuhoe), who has held the position for the last 11 years and who is establishing a new division of the organisation.
A powhiri for Ms Walsh was held at Hokowhitu Marae last weekend.
Ngaire Te Hira, Te Korowai Aroha’s newly-elected Auckland-based chairwoman said she and her colleagues were excited to have Ms Walsh join the organisation, given her credentials and reputation.
Te Korowai Aroha o Aotearoa’s board and staff were also recently presented with the formal ISO Quality Management Systems Standards NZS 9001:2008 certificate of accreditation by Janice McEwan of the Christchurch-based DAA Group, on behalf of the Joint Accreditation Scheme of Australia and New Zealand (Jas-anz).
“We are very pleased that the accreditation is valid for three years, which is considered quite an achievement for a first audit,” Ms Karanga said.
“This achievement, along with the delivery of nationally-renowned services to whanau, hapu and iwi organisations will ensure that the new pouarahi will be receiving an organisation that is robust and in a vibrant state.”
Moerangi Falaoa (Tuwharetoa, Ngati Maniapoto), currently the special projects senior advisor (whakapumautake) for Te Korowai Aroha has been invited to attend a workshop entitled Deliberative Democracy in Dayton, Ohio.
She will be attending this alongside community workers and advisors to leaders from around the world.