In a move unique at UCOL, the Palmerston North Nurse Education team have commissioned their own waiata that explains their values.
The waiata Te Kaupapa Nei (The Purpose) was composed by local teacher and Te Piringa kapa haka group tutor Rongomai Taiapa-Aporo, after the idea was suggested at a Nursing staff meeting.
With the help of UCOL Kaiāwhina Erica William, the Nurse Education team brainstormed what they wanted to include in the song. They came up with a list of values and ideas that are important to them as nurses and educators, including caring, nurturing, and connecting.
Mrs William then took this information to Mr Taiapa-Aporo to compose the waiata around.
Mrs William and her husband Anton taught the waiata to the team.
The team first performed Te Kaupapa Nei for external programme monitor Alison Dixon, when she visited at the end of last year.
Mrs William says she was touched by how the team sung Te Kaupapa Nei with so much passion.
“They really owned it. I think they sung it with passion because it was their own words from their own hearts.”
Head of School of Nursing (Palmerston North) Vicki-Lee Tyacke says the team hopes to perform Te Kaupapa Nei as part of its pōwhiri process, to welcome visitors and new students to the
Bachelor of Nursing programme, and when they visit marae.
“We are welcomed onto marae a lot, so imagine how great it would be if we responded with our own waiata.”
“We also want to teach it to new students, who can then pass it onto students who come after them.”
Ms Tyacke says singing the waiata as a group has been a great team-building experience and it has brought the team closer together.
“People are singing it in the office. They’ve gone home and told their families about it. It has been very special.”
“As Head of School, it has been a real privilege to see it come together. We are very thankful to Rongomai. We’ve had amazing support from Erica and her husband Anton, and we couldn’t have done it without them.”
Te Kaupapa Nei
Composed by Rongomai Taiapa-Aporo and gifted to the UCOL Nurse Education team
Uia mai koia
He aha ra te pūtake o te kaupapa nei?
Ka pēnei taku whakautu
E hoa, tēna whakarongo mai!
Mātauranga, māramatanga pūkenga e
Akoranga, whanaketanga
Ngā iwi e
Te tūhonohono, tuitui
Ngākau nui
Kia kā tonu te ahi
Kia kore e piroku e
He mahi poipoi
He manaaki
He atawhai
He tiaki
Te oranga o te tangata
Te Whare Tapawhā
Koinei te pūtake o te kaupapa nei
One may ask,
What is the purpose of this programme?
My answer to them would be,
My dear friend, lend me your ears and listen carefully
Education, understanding, skills
Learning, developing
Diversity of cultures
Relationships, connecting
Passion
Carrying a flame that never extinguishes
Nurturing
Caring,
Cherishing,
Respecting,
Personal well-being
Te Whare Tapawhā
This, my friend, is the purpose of this programme