Turakina Ngā Hara me Hinepūkohurangi

Abstract

Turakina Māori Girls’ College was a Māori boarding school established by the Presbyterian Church. It is a school that has had a long-standing relationship with Tūhoe. The connection between Tūhoe and Turakina Māori Girls’ College has seen many generations of Tūhoe women attend this Presbyterian educational institution. Central in the forging of special bond was the connection between The Right Reverend John Laughton and Rua Kenana. They both had immense influence on the people of Ruatāhuna, of Waikaremoana and Te Whāiti where the very first cohort of Tūhoe students who attended Turakina originated. This research investigates the influence of Turakina Māori Girl’s College on the lifestyles, careers and personal development of a select group of Tūhoe women. In particular, this study focuses on Tūhoe women who attended Turakina over a period of five decades from as early as the 1940’s through to the 1980’s. The careers of each of the participants range from education to health, to social services and to pastoral Ministry. The key focus questions are based around the four cornerstone pinnacles of Turakina; Mana Mātauranga - Educational Enhancement & Achievement, Mana Māori - Māori Language & Cultural Strengthening, Mana Wairua - Spiritual Well-being & Care and particularly Mana Wahine - Female Capacity. In January 2016, the Minister of Education officially closed Turakina. The college was the only Māori Girls’ boarding school ever to be established by the Presbyterian Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand. However, the relationship between Turakina and Tūhoe still remains and is a crucial part of the lives of many Tūhoe women.