Tania M. Ka'ai, sometimes known as Tania Kaai-Oldman,[3] is a New Zealand education academic. She is a full professor of language revitalisation at the Auckland University of Technology.[4]

Tania Ka'ai
Other namesTania Kaai-Oldman
Alma materUniversity of Waikato
Scientific career
InstitutionsAuckland University of Technology
Thesis
Notable studentsDiane Charlie-Puna[1]
Hana O'Regan[2]

Academic career

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Ka'ai earned a 1995 education PhD from the University of Waikato, with a thesis titled ' Te tātari i te kaupapa' , which looked at ways the New Zealand qualifications framework could be used as a tool for indigenous knowledge to be integrated and recognised as a valid part of the education system in New Zealand.[5][6] After working at the University of Otago,[7][8] from which she was stood down in contentious circumstances,[9] Ka'ai moved to the Auckland University of Technology with John Moorfield.[4] Notable students include Diane Charlie-Puna and Hana O'Regan.[10][11]

Ka'ai's research is centred on learning of indigenous languages (particularly te reo) in formal and semi-formal educational settings. She is a strong advocate for te reo being compulsory in New Zealand schools.[12]

Selected works

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  • Ka'ai, Tania. Introduction to Māori culture and society. Longman, 2004.
  • Ka'ai, Tania M., and Rawinia Higgins. "Te ao Māori–Māori world-view." Ki Te Whaiao–An Introduction to Māori Culture and Society. Auckland: Pearson Education (2004): 13–25.
  • Jenkins, Kuni, and Tania Ka’ai. "Maori education: A cultural experience and dilemma for the state–a new direction for Maori society." The politics of learning and teaching in Aotearoa–New Zealand (1994): 79–148.
  • Ka’ai, Tania. "Te hiringa taketake: Mai i te Kohanga Reo i te kura= Maori pedagogy: te Kohanga Reo and the transition to school." MSc Thesis, ResearchSpace@ Auckland, 1990.
  • Ka'ai, Tania. "Te mana o te reo me ngā tikanga: Power and politics of the language." (2004).

Personal life

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Ka'ai is of Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu, Native Hawaiian, Cook Island Māori, and Samoan descent.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Charlie-Puna, Diane (2018). Aue'anga Ngakau - Silent Tears. The impact of colonisation on traditional adoption lore in the Cook Islands: Examining the status of Tamariki 'Angai and their entitlements (Master's thesis). Auckland University of Technology.
  2. ^ O'Regan, Hana (2016). Te Tīmataka Mai O Te Waiatataka Mai O Te Reo (Doctoral thesis). Tuwhera Open Access, Auckland University of Technology. hdl:10292/10646.
  3. ^ "He kupu arotau : loanwords in Måaori /". Worldcat.org. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Professor Tania Ka'ai". AUT. 17 July 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Professor Tania Ka'ai". AUT. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  6. ^ Ka’ai, Tania (1990). Te hiringa taketake : mai i Te Kohanga Reo i te kura = Maori pedagogy : Te Kohanga Reo and the transition to school (Masters thesis). ResearchSpace@Auckland, University of Auckland. hdl:2292/5984.
  7. ^ "History of Te Tumu, Te Tumu, University of Otago, New Zealand". Otago.ac.nz. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Tānia Ka'ai - Tertiary Teaching Excellence Teaching Profile". Ako Aotearoa. 10 October 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  9. ^ Gibb, John. "Academics drop employment claim". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  10. ^ Charlie-Puna, Diane (2018). Aue'anga Ngakau - Silent Tears. The impact of colonisation on traditional adoption lore in the Cook Islands: Examining the status of Tamariki 'Angai and their entitlements (Master's thesis). Auckland University of Technology.
  11. ^ O'Regan, Hana (2016). Te Tīmataka Mai O Te Waiatataka Mai O Te Reo (Doctoral thesis). Tuwhera Open Access, Auckland University of Technology. hdl:10292/10646.
  12. ^ "Survey shows te reo should be compulsory in primary schools | Māori Television". Maoritelevision.com. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Professor Tania Ka'ai » Te Ipukarea. National Māori Language Institute". Teipukarea.maori.nz. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
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