About Te Rito
Te Rito is a bicultural training resource specifically designed for the public sector. We have called this resource ‘Te Rito’ (the heart or new shoots of the flax bush), because we believe the important knowledge it contains is at the heart of Te Ao Māori, and needs protection and support. The theme of the resource is the whakatauki ‘Hutia Te Rito’, which refers to the consequences of plucking the heart from the flaxbush which sustains the outer leaves – in the same way that culture and community sustain people. We hope this will remind us all that ultimately the welfare and happiness of people should be at the heart of our work.
Te Rito has been designed as a response to an identified need in the public sector for a bicultural resource of this nature. We hope it will help members of this sector develop their own bicultural competencies and a better understanding of Māori perspectives. Many government and non-government organisations are currently licensed to use Te Rito and it consistently receives positive feedback.
This exciting multimedia software application is designed to extend and reinforce current responsiveness to Māori training, and, where there is no such training, to give employees the building blocks they need to improve their relationships with Māori colleagues, stakeholders, clients and communities. The strength of having an ongoing training tool is that information can be absorbed, refreshed and practiced in the user’s own time and at his or her own pace. There are a variety of multimedia features that allow users to select their particular learning style (for example visual and/or aural).
Te Rito is supported by a series of twelve learning assessment modules that will provide a framework for learning about Te Ao Māori and ensure that the knowledge is applied practically and retained long-term. Licensees of Te Rito can download these modules for staff use from this site free of charge (click here).
