Incredible journey to Peru | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

An inspirational experience in Peru has left Shannon Waser with a greater appreciation for the educational opportunities New Zealanders have.

The Te Wananga o Aotearoa whakairo (carving) tutor has recently returned from the World Indigenous Peoples Conference in Education (WIPCE), held in the ancient city of Cusco. Fifteen countries were represented, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA and Latin American nations.

Mr Waser said educational opportunities in Aotearoa were good, including for Maori, who were seen as world leaders within education.

"One of the things I learned from my time away was to be thankful for the resources Te Wananga o Aotearoa already have. We have good resources here, education is at people's fingertips in Aotearoa New Zealand and none of our students are living in real poverty.

"In Cusco there are shanty towns with thousands of people living without running water or flush toilets," he said. "It makes you think how lucky we are. The Peruvian people are poor, but they still have smiles on their faces. Despite the poverty they are very happy people and are an indigenous people looking forward."

He said Maori were seen as role models in education by leaders from other nations and they especially liked the kohanga reo model. "Hawaii has adopted it and their young generations are already speaking their native tongue.

"Children in Peru are multilingual, speaking four or five different languages."

There are 70 indigenous languages in Peru, but Spanish is the only language delivered in schools.

Peruvian delegates at the conference spoke about their attempts to establish bilingual education and revitalise and teaching children the Quechuan language and tikanga.

"It's not just about the language its about learning their tikanga which is vital for the survival of any culture and people's wellbeing," Mr Waser said.

Delegates were "blown away" that Maori education was at university level and Maori ran and operated educational institutions, he said. "We are role models to other indigenous nations and we help guide them."

Te Wananga o Aotearoa has had a long association with WIPCE and from 100 applications Mr Waser and Hemi Hireme, regional academic member for the Waiariki rohe, were among 30 TWOA employees chosen to represent New Zealand at the conference. It was held in a Spanish speaking country for the first time in 24 years. The overall theme was "Living Our Indigenous Roots".

Presentation topics included indigenous education for future generations, indigenous language, and welfare. Forty-five per cent of the registration fees were donated to a local Quechua community.

Mr Waser said from a Maori artist's perspective the Peruvians were amazing artists.

Their style was Aztec and Mayan, which was very different to Maori carvings.

"They are masters of silver and gold and make incredible jewellery and stone work," he said.

Cusco, the capital of the old Inca civilisation, is 3400m above sea level, the equivalent to standing at the top of Mt Cook and visitors often struggle with the higher altitude.

"It was hard to breathe so I had to drink a lot of coca tea and chew on coca leaves to help your blood carry oxygen."

During his time in Peru Mr Waser visited Machu Picchu, often referred to as the Lost City of the Incas and voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. He also walked the Inca trail and went to Sacsayhuaman, an ancient fortress where the opening ceremony for the conference was held. "It was an incredible experience."

The next World Indigenous Peoples Conference in Education will be in Hawaii in 2014.