WTHSW715.2 Ngā Iwi Taketake Individual Essay Assessment 2026

WTHSW715.2 Assessment Individual Essay

Ngā Whāinga Kōnae Ako Aims

This kōnae ako contextualises the international indigenous experience to the context of social work. The intent is to identify parallel experiences between indigenous cultures and initiatives that they have used to reclaim and transform their indigenous rights.

Ngā Putanga Learning Outcomes

At the end of this kōnae ako, ākonga will be able to:

1. Critically explore the political environment of indigenous issues as they impact on social work practice (must include: Human Rights and UNDRIP)
2. Critically examine the range of issues, approaches and skills between Māori and other indigenous communities.
3. Select and locate the Māori experience in the Indigenous Social Work context.
4. Critically explore the significance of indigenous social work practice as opposed to social work practice with indigenous communities.

Hei Whakaarotanga Mā Te Kaikao Kaikao Notes

In order to maintain a commitment to the bicultural nature of the programme, each kōnae ako will clearly delineate the theory, the principle and the practice that is evident in each kōnae ako. The praxis of different thinking is also evident.

• Theory: Indigeneity
• Principle: Tino Rangatiratanga, Taukumekume
• Practice: Koha, Mauri Ora, He Ara Tohu

Whakatauki

Whakatauki will be provided as a rauemi for each kōnae ako. These whakatauki will reflect the core essence of the kōnae ako. It will help to guide the Kaikao and the tauira. The whakatauki may be further embellished by a rohe specific whakatauki.

Whakatauki 1: Tukuna te ahi o te kōtahitanga kia mura kia okeoke, pāinaina ki tōnā āhurutanga May the flames of unity burn brightly and may we bask in its warmth

Whakatauki 2: Somewhere ages and ages hence, two roads diverged in a wood, and I, took the one less travelled. And that has made all the difference.
(John Frost, 1969)

Ngā Kiko Content

Kōrero Whakamārama

Tauira have the opportunity to explore what indigenous people are doing in the field of social work in their nations and communities. The similarities and differences are critiqued between what is happening internationally and locally thereby leading to a deeper appreciation of the fundamental relationship between indigenous nations.

1. Critically explore the political environment of indigenous issues as they impact on social work practice.

• To understand the Declaration of Human Rights.
• To understand the background to the development of UNDRIP and the role of Aotearoa New Zealand (Government and NGOs).
• To consider how UNDRIP is related to the development of the Indigenous Peoples Movement internationally.
• To be aware of other Conventions that includes indigenous peoples (e.g. Convention on the Rights of the Child etc).

2. Critically examine the range of issues, approaches and skills between Māori and other indigenous communities.

• What is indigenous?
• What are the various perspectives on indigeneity?
• What do Māori say indigenous means in the context of Aotearoa and other nations?
• Access various mediums to examine a range of issues relevant to both Māori and other indigenous peoples.
• Consider the similarities and differences in various approaches of working with indigenous peoples from working with Māori.
• What are the knowledge and skills required to work with other indigenous peoples in the pursuit of Māori or?

3. Select and locate the Māori experience in the Indigenous Social Work context.

• What involvement and contribution have Māori been able to koha to the Indigenous Social Work context (movements, initiatives, research, and writing)?
• Have these assisted other indigenous peoples, or are we prone to reconciliation?
• What is the nature of the relationship that needs to be established between Māori and other indigenous peoples?
• Does this relationship differ when they are in Aotearoa or when they are in the place of other indigenous peoples?

4. Critically explore the significance of indigenous social work practice as opposed to social work practice with indigenous communities.

• Analyse the various positions around indigenous social work practice or social work practice with indigenous communities.
• Understand the taumekume that this can create.
• Identify the solutions to this taumekume that allow respectful relationships to be established.

Assessment Overview

There is one summative assessment for this kōnae ako.

Aromatawai 1: Individual Essay 100%

This is an achievement based aromatawai. In order to pass the kōnae ako a pass grade of 50% must be achieved.

Aromatawai 1

1. Individual Essay

Ngā Putanga: 1, 2, 3, 4
Word Count: 3000 words
Weighting: 100%

Write an essay that discusses each of the points listed below and include a minimum of 20 references. Throughout your essay you must demonstrate knowledge and application of basic te reo and tikanga Māori specifically relevant to this context.

• Critically explore the political environment of indigenous issues and how indigeneity is evolving because of UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) and Human Rights, and how these impact social work practice.
• Critically analyse the similarities and differences between Māori and another indigenous community by examining their history, their tikanga, their practices, their current issues and their situation today.
• Critically locate the Māori experience in the Indigenous Social Work context.
• Compare and contrast the significance of indigenous social work practice as opposed to social work practice with indigenous communities between Māori and another indigenous community.

Formatting requirements for your essay are as follows:

• 12 point Times New Roman
• 1.5 line spacing
• Margins are justified
• Include taura name and ID
• Include page numbers
• Include a reference page with APA referencing 7th Edition.