Human Rights Commission

Tangata Tiriti – Treaty People project

The Treaty Education for Migrants is a group of migrant and refugee representatives, migrant sector stakeholders, English language and Treaty educators. The group has acted as a project steering group over the last several years. In 2006, the group published a Treaty education kit ‘Tangata Tiriti  Treaty People: An interactive workbook on the Treaty of Waitangi’ to encourage migrant and refugee communities to learn about the Treaty, and to build relationships with Maori communities.

The initiative was in response to urgent calls by migrant and refugee spokespeople for appropriate education about the Treaty so that their communities would not be disadvantaged in job interviews, school participation and civic dialogue by their lack of knowledge of the Treaty and tangata whenua status.

Distribution of the kit is co-ordinated by the Auckland Regional Migrant Centre .Find out more about Tangata Tiriti Treaty People kit here . To order kits in book form, loose-leaf or on CD, fill out this order form (2011 prices), email the Auckland Regional Migrant Service or phone 09 625 2449.

To show how the kit looks inside see introduction to kit contents here.  For a useful one-page handout from the kit, download ‘Summary of Te Tiriti text in plain English here. This summary can be freely used in schools and workshops to help understand the Treaty.

The Treaty of Waitangi is important for all New Zealanders. Maori who signed the Treaty agreed to share their country with the people who would come here later. Treaty people, tangata tiriti. That’s us and that’s why we need to know about and respect the Treaty – Activity 1 from , p. 11, Tangata Tiriti – Treaty People kit.

New Zealand is the only treaty-based country in the South Pacific and as Immigrants and Refugees in Aotearoa, New Zealand, we should be well educated about the treaty. The treaty kit will be a great asset to all of us – Dr Nagalingam Rasalingam, Refugee Council of New Zealand

Projects 2011

Workshops – Treaty of Waitangi: 4 All of Us

The group supports Treaty workshops held at the Auckland Regional Migrant Centre. The day-long workshops are free and are for migrants and settlers interested in learning more about the Treaty of Waitangi. The workshop is led by two trained facilitators using the interactive kit. The Treaty Education for Migrants Group has conducted over 30 Treaty workshops in association with the Auckland Regional Migrant Service including sessions at the Manukau branch over the last few years. Participants receive a certificate useful for job applications. ARMS report that it is their most popular workshop. Contact ARMS for a list of 2011 workshops.

Treaty Education Facilitator Training

The Treaty Education for Migrants group organise training for older settlers, migrants and refugees who want to be Treaty education facilitators. The training enables migrants and refugees to deliver the Treaty People workshops at their local migrant centre and to their own communities. There are around 25 facilitators now trained to co-facilitate the workshops at Auckland Regional Migrant Centre. This year, Treaty Education for Migrants is planning to run facilitator training for members of Auckland’s more established settler groups. In 2012, facilitator training will be run in other parts of the country. Contact national coordinator Dr. Ingrid Huygens workwise@pl.net

Treaty People Orientation workshops around the country

Specially designed for smaller cities and centres, these one-day orientation workshops are for service providers and new settlers together. Participants gain orientation training in how to use the interactive activities with their clients and communities. A professional development certificate is awarded. Contact national coordinator Dr Ingrid Huygens workwise@pl.net

The NZ Diversity Forum

The Treaty Education Group in conjunction with the Auckland Regional Migrant Service will host a session at this year’s Diversity Forum in Hamilton on Treaty education for migrants.  Details of the session will be publicised when the programme is confirmed.