| Abstrakt: |
The role of mātua (fathers) in the parenting of their tamariki (children) is bound within cultural worldviews, values, norms and expectations. For pre-colonial Māori, the primal parents, Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatūānuku (Earth Mother), not only provided an archetypical depiction of parenting, but established child rearing practices, whānau (familial and extended family) roles and responsibilities and the place of individuals, including tamariki and mātua. Colonisation impacted hugely on traditional tamaiti (child) rearing practices, introducing western parenting norms and perspectives. This article explores the knowledge, experiences and understandings of contemporary mātua, related to their ideas about being tāne [The use of the macron above the ā in words such as tane (tāne) and matua (mātua) indicates the plural form is being referred to. Where relevant we have followed this convention throughout] (men) Māori, parenting understandings, roles, relationships and aspirations for their tamariki. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
