To understand the Treaty of Waitangi, we need to live it, not just talk about it.
All of us who live in Aotearoa are either descendants of Indigenous tangata whenua (Māori) or descendants of Tauiwi (people who migrated to Aotearoa after the arrival of Māori). Whether or not we also identify ourselves as Pākehā, Kiwi, New Zealanders and/or as descendants of people from other nations, we all have the choice to position ourselves as Treaty Partners. And we have much to gain from making this choice.
Throughout this book the author reflects on stories of his own personal encounters with the Treaty of Waitangi in the context of education. The stories range over 70 years of meeting and working with Māori friends and colleagues in education, and, with their encouragement and support, learning to be comfortable in engaging with Te Ao Māori (the
Māori world).
