Māori resource teacher honoured for her work

<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">A resource teacher of M&amacr;ori&comma; based at Waitara East School in Taranaki&comma; has been given one of the highest honours in the education sector&period; Tiri Bailey&comma; who has iwi links with Te Atiawa Taranaki and Ng&amacr;i Tahu&comma; has been made a Fellow of NZEI Te Riu Roa&period;<&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">In presenting the award NZEI president Louise Green said that Tiri had been a passionate advocate for NZEI Te Riu Roa&comma; supporting members industrially and professionally&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p> She became a member of NZEI while at Auckland Teachers&&num;8217&semi; College from 1970-1972&comma;  and became active in NZEI’s Miro M&amacr;ori network where she took leadership roles to advance the cause for members and tamariki in education&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;I feel very humble&comma; and yet proud&comma; to get this award&period; It affects me personally but also acknowledges the work we do for Miro M&amacr;ori and M&amacr;ori education&period; We can’t do this work without the support of wh&amacr;nau and members&period; ”<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Tiri has represented NZEI members in all major office positions in the Taranaki region and has been Taranaki representative on Te Reo Areare and in this role served as Kaihaut&umacr;&comma; during which time she represented Miro M&amacr;ori at international educational forums&period; She has also been on numerous working parties and committees through national executive&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p> &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;It has always been her strength to bring people on board with her to support educational initiatives&comma; and she is renowned for her gentle ways in sharing tikanga M&amacr;ori and why a M&amacr;ori voice needs to be heard&comma;’’ said Ms Green&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;