Puao-te-Ata-tu and Dissenting Voices of Change at New Zealand's Oldest School of Social Work

INTRODUCTION: The Ministerial Advisory Committee Report on a M (a) over bar ori Perspective for the New Zealand Department of Social Welfare (1986) offers an historic reference point from which to examine education and training reforms initiated at Aotearoa New Zealand's oldest school of social work and designed to better address the needs and aspirations of M (a) over bar ori and those working with M (a) over bar ori. Pu ao-te-Ata-t (u) over bar is an internationally unique example of social research facilitated by distinguished M (a) over bar ori leaders and senior government officials using indigenous methods. The Vice Chancellor of Victoria University was approached in 1986 along with its new Professor of Social Work about becoming drivers of P (u) over bar ao-te-Ata-t (u) over bar Recommendation 10(c) to "assess the extent to which tertiary social work courses are meeting cultural needs for those public servants seconded as students to the courses". The early passing of alumnusElder John Rangihau, shortly after P (u) over bar ao-te-Ata-t (u) over bar was published, left a legacy-acknowledged posthumously by the Council of Victoria University in 1989-when a senior Te Rangihau Scholar teaching and research position was established with Ng (a) over tildei T (u) over bar hoe. A decade of reform in social work education and research at Victoria University saw important movement towards supporting and promoting M (a) over bar ori perspectives in the delivery of community social services in three New Zealand regions.