Raglan Naturally recently held the first of two annual Te Tiriti workshops, facilitated by Ingrid Huygens from Tangata Tiriti – Tangata People. With the next workshop planned for Saturday October 14th, the Chronicle caught up with a couple of participants to hear about their experience.
Rachel White:
Why did you/your organisation decide to take part in this workshop?
Really it was a personal desire to understand who I am as a 4th generation pākehā New Zealander. As I’ve become older, it seems more important to me to understand what this means not only for myself, but also for my children.
What were some of the highlights from the day?
The interactive component of most of the learning was great since it gave real impact and meaning to the course content. One of the most surprising things I discovered was the nature of Māori and pākehā ties prior to the Treaty of Waitangi as well as the creation of “The Declaration of Independence”… surprise moment for sure! All in all, I left with some radically new understandings of our past that turned some old thinking on its head for me – in a positive way! Also, the food provided was delicious!
What was the learning experience like?
Captivating and engaging and filled with lots of big “aha” moments. At times quite emotional, but also very healing. I definitely have a new perspective on myself and my own history. I also have a more informed understanding and appreciation of Māori perspectives and feel more positive about the future of Aotearoa.
Would you recommend this workshop to others in the community?
I would absolutely recommend for everyone as a must do for everyone! Even if you think you know about The Treaty, it was just so very powerful to come together as a community group and listen to some personal stories, new narratives and perspectives, and process it all and learn together.
Any other thoughts/comments?
It’s one of those courses that might seem like a bit of a commitment, but is so worth the investment of really just your time. The facilitators are so expert at gently carrying you through the process and I left with a real desire to learn more.
Tesh Randall
Why did you/your organisation decide to take part in this workshop?
I had done a couple of Te Tiriti awareness workshops before but both were quite short and online based, so I was keen to dive deeper in person. I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to attend a full-day experience in our local community
What were some of the highlights from the day?
I thought it was beautifully facilitated and very thorough. There were some great discussions, lots of interaction with others in the group, delicious kai, and lots of new insights/learnings that I hadn’t gained before in the shorter trainings I’d done.
What was the learning experience like?
I appreciated how the format was simple and easy to follow, with plenty of interactive parts to it so we weren’t just sitting and listening for the whole day. The facilitators had a gentle energy and were great at creating a nice, open atmosphere for learning.
Would you recommend this workshop to others in the community?
Definitely, I thought it was wonderful and I learnt so many things I hadn’t ever heard about before! I feel like my understanding has really deepened. You won’t find a better value Te Tiriti training around ($20 is a pretty incredible price for a full-day workshop with materials to take home as well).
The next Treaty Workshop will be held on October 14th in Raglan – register online at raglannaturally.co.nz.
