鈥淓motional Literacy has been linked to increases in social skills, employment outcomes and overall wellbeing, however access to relevant courses is costly, and often programmes are more generic and based in an employment context,鈥 Kiri says.
鈥淲e also wanted to highlight how M膩tauranga M膩ori was able to support this kaupapa and with help from Kaum膩tua Rereata Makiha (Ngai Tuteauru, Te Mahurehure, Ng膩ti P膩kau, Te Aupouri, Te Arawa) we were able to thread concepts from Te Maramataka (the M膩ori Lunar Calendar) throughout both our research generally and within the EL programme specifically that we developed alongside our Research Wh膩nau.鈥澨
Examiners said her PhD thesis broke new ground in content and methodology as it melded western theories of emotional literacy with indigenous m膩tauranga, based on the maramataka M膩ori, and made an important contribution to the field.
鈥淥ur programme can be adjusted to cater to pretty much any target group,鈥 Kiri says. 鈥淎nd we are keen to showcase how we can do this in a way which reflects an Aotearoa context. People who are more emotionally literate have increased wellbeing outcomes and we think everyone deserves to have access to this knowledge.鈥
Kiri鈥檚 collaborative research methodology also impressed her thesis supervisors, UC Education academics听听补苍诲听.
Coming full circle, her first role as Dr Solomon will be to co-lecture, with Dr O鈥橳oole, on a postgraduate course, Understanding Emotions in Education, Leadership and Health, in UC鈥檚 2021/2022 Summer School. 鈥淭his is a really nice way to round off my journey,鈥 she says.
