Olive Patricia Hawira

Te Āti Haunui a Pāpārangi

1949 -

Olive Hawira was born in Raetihi and was educated at a number of small country schools. She spent four years at Hunterville Rangitikei College and Taihape College from She went to Auckland Kindergarten Teachers’ College and graduated with a Kindergarten Diploma in 1968. She was the Māori Executive Representative for the Kindergarten Teachers’ Association 1987-90 and was the Vice-President for the Combined Early Childhood Union of Aotearoa. She has been Takawaenga A Motu for the Combined Early Childhood Union of Aotearoa and currently works as a Kaitakawaenga for NZEI Te Riu Roa. She has attended a writing workshop led by Patricia Grace and a writing course run by Bob Kerr of the Media Collective in conjunction with a course at Whare Wananga O Waikato. She writes non-fiction articles and reports.

Biographical sources

  • Correspondence and phone conversations with Olive Hawira, 8 Dec. 1992, and 19 Aug. 1998.

    Non-fiction

  • The Te Reo Areare. A report on their work to the members. No further details.
  • "Nga Mea Māori mo te Tari Matauranga: Kohungahunga and ‘Māori Women in Education.’" KTA Journal (1989): 16-17.
  • Hawira writes a report on a course that she attended which was aimed at developing "good Māori policy that would provide guidelines for the changes that were coming in education."
  • "Starting Early." PPTA Journal 1 (1990): 12-13.
  • Co-authors Olive Hawira, Linda Mitchell and Judith Baxter. Hawira states this article is “about the changes being made in the two early childhood unions of the time - KTA and the Early Childhood Workers’ Union. It is about developing dual structures that reflect the Treaty of Waitangi Partnership.”
  • "Profile: Olive Hawira." Double Take 1.1 (1990): 3.
  • In this profile Hawira describes her introduction into increased involvement in the Kindergarten Teachers’ Association.
  • Tino Rangātiratanga Report on Waitara High School. Eds. Ken Mair and Bill Hamilton. Wellington/Taranaki, N.Z.: Tino Rangātiratanga, 1990.
  • Co-authors Olive Hawira and Richard Ngata.
  • "Panui." Double Take 2.2 (1991): 4.
  • Hawira writes a panui on the Annual Hui for Runanga Members of the Combined Early Childhood Union of Aotearoa. She also gives details of an upcoming Hui Kaimahi Māori O Aotearoa to be held at Whaiora Marae in Otara and a Teacher Refresher Course for Māori Workers in early Childhood Education to be held in May at the Wellington College of Education.
  • "Equity." Double Take 2.3 (1991): 2.
  • Co-authors Linda Mitchell and Olive Hawira. This article focuses on the “Before Five Working Party on National Guidelines for Early Childhood Centres” principle of recognising the dual heritage of the Treaty of Waitangi partners in all early childhood work. Mitchell and Hawira criticise “Desirable Objectives and Practices” published in the Education Gazette (December 1990 issue), which downplays the rights of Māori and suggests an assimilationist approach to early childhood education, a policy which Mitchell and Hawira assert “values majority rights and needs at the expense of keeping Māori invisible”.
  • "Panui." Double Take 2.3 (1991): 3.
  • A panui advertising the Hui for Māori workers, teachers and whanau in early childhood education to be held at Kohupatiki Marae in Clive (Hawkes Bay) from 17-19 May 1991.
  • "A Treaty-Based Māori Trade Union." Double Take 2.3 (1991): 3.
  • Hawira writes a brief account of the establishment of a Treaty-based Māori Trade Union advocated by the Hui Kaimahi Māori, the Biennial Hui for Māori delegates from NZCTU affiliates which met in March 1991 at Whaiora Marae in Otara.
  • "Profile: Georgina (Gina) Wainohu." Double Take 2.4 (1991): 3.
  • Hawira writes of YMCA creche worker Gina Wainohu of Invercargill and records her sense of isolation as the sole Māori childcare worker in the district.
  • "Panui." Double Take 2.5 (1991): 3.
  • In this panui Hawira writes of updating the Runanga mailing list, gives notice of a Pre-Conference Hui being held July 27-28, 1991 in Wellington, and lists the nominations for the Runanga representatives for the Combined Early Childhood Union of Aotearoa.
  • "Images." Double Take 2.7 (1991): 4.
  • Hawira reflects back on her year as National Co-ordinator Māori for the Combined Early Childhood Union of Aotearoa and considers the fluctuating impact of various political initiatives in 1991 on Māori.
  • Tino Rangātiratanga Commission Report On Bay Of Islands College. Taranaki/Wellington, N.Z.: Tino Rangātiratanga, 1991.
  • Co-authors Olive Hawira, Collin Rangi and Noema Williams.
  • "Te Ara Taki: Māori Women and Women’s Structures." Double Take 3.1 (1992): 1.
  • Hawira writes that although Te Ara Taki, the education sector union amalgamation, upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its negotiations, there are no Māori representatives on the Women’s Committee. Hawira reports on the response of the "Haere Whakamua Hui" of November 1991 to this situation and lists the areas that still need to be clarified concerning Māori involvement in the women’s committee and other issues pertinent to Māori women.
  • "Panui." Double Take 3.2 (1992): 4.
  • Hawira gives notice of proposed cost savings in the Collective Employment Contract negotiations by Bill Birch, Lockwood Smith and kindergarten workers. She argues that these would infringe on leave provisions.
  • "Runanga nominations for vice president and two executive members." Double Take 3.2 (1992): 4.
  • Hawira calls for nominations for the positions of vice president and two executive members. She gives notice of the upcoming annual hui for Runanga Members in May 1992, and notifies readers of other upcoming hui.
  • "Waimatao Rewiti-Rata." Double Take 3.3 (1992): 2.
  • Hawira writes a tribute to Waimatao Reweti-Rata, a deceased foundation member of the Runanga, noting her enormous contribution in representing Māori rights in childhood education and in the Tauranga City Council. Betty Pakai-Campbell, associate member, writes a "Poroporoaki" to Wai and likens her to a totara tree, and Joan Smith writes a "Tribute to Wai" on the same page.
  • Tino Rangātiratanga Commission Report On Awatapu College. Ed. Bill Hamilton, Māori Translation A Moke. Taranaki/Wellington, N.Z.: Tino Rangātiratanga, 1992.
  • Co-authors Olive Hawira and Richard Ngata.
  • Te Ripoata Tuatahi o te Takawaenga A Motu. Combined Early Childhood Union of Aotearoa/ Te Rau O Te Aroha O Te Kohanga Ki Aotearoa, May 1992.
  • "Runanga Hui Tapu Te Ranga Marae." Double Take 4.1 (1993): 1.
  • A brief notice on the Runanga Hui to be held from 15-17 May at Tapu Te Ranga Marae and a request for nominations for one vice president, and two runanga representatives, and three deputies on the National Executive.
  • "Elections 1993: Response from Olive Hawira CECUA National Co-ordinator Māori." Double Take 4.3 (1993): 3.
  • Hawira provides an abridged version of her paper "Key Issues For Māori Education in ECE", in which she parallels the charter requirements of licensed kindergarten centres with the reality of limited annual leave and few Māori employees in kindergartens. She proposes a development of policy that provides access, resources and funding of staff to incorporate te reo me nga tikanga Māori and to give recognition of the voluntary input of Māori communities.
  • "Profile - Kamiria Mullen." Double Take 4.1 (1993): 2.
  • In this profile compiled by Hawira, Kamiria discusses her work as a CECUA organiser in the Wellington district for nine months. She also discusses her work with Kohanga Reo and her experience as a union member.
  • "First Time at a Runanga Hui." Double Take 4.3 (1993): 1.
  • In this profile, Sophie Paaka of Ngāti Hine hapu of Ngapuhi (Motueka) discusses her experiences attending the Runanga Hui at Tapu Te Ranga Marae in May 1993. She outlines the priorities the hui focused on for the coming year; these included developing local and regional structures, promoting te reo Māori and Māori tikanga, and identifying training needs.
  • E Tui Kotahi. 1993. No further details.
  • The report of the Māori member response to the proposed amalgamation between the Combined Early Childhood Union of Aotearoa and NZEI Te Riu Roa.
  • The Hui A Tau Report to Annual Meeting 1997. Wellington, N.Z.: NZEI Te Riuroa, 1997.
  • The Hui A Tau Report to annual meeting 1998. Wellington, N.Z.: NZEI Te Riu Roa, 1998.
  • Hawira states that this is a report "of the hui held in July 1998 - the development of NZEI policy and setting goals for 1998-1999, and about Māori issues in general education."

    Other

  • "Stop Press." Double Take 1.6 (1990): 1.
  • A brief welcome to Hawira as CECUA National Co-ordinator Māori commencing work on 3 December 1990, based in the National Office in Wellington, N.Z.