The capabilities included within the social and emotional area of agency and adaptability are drawn from the values and concepts of rangatiratanga and urutaunga.
Through rangatiratanga and urutaunga, mokopuna learn to both lead and follow in ways that promote their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of the collective. The notions of aumangea (determined) and raungawari (flexible) may also help describe these important capabilities.
Rangatiratanga
Rangatiratanga supports leadership for self and for collective determination and governance. Rangatiratanga expresses the right that individuals have to exercise autonomy, power and authority over their own lives and learning and our responsibilities to each other. The leadership expressed is to benefit collective outcomes.
“Rangatiratanga includes a focus on individuals reaching their highest potential, expanding and deepening their talents and skills, thus strengthening and enhancing the whānau/family or collective.”
Rameka, 2011, p. 253
Urutaunga
Urutaunga is critically important for the survival of mokopuna, whānau and kaiako. In addition to the greater process of evolutionary adaptation, urutaunga includes adjusting actions and behaviours to each new context while holding and valuing one’s sense of self and connections through identity, language and culture. The notion of adaptation in this context includes how individuals, communities and environments adapt in reciprocal ways that can be mutually beneficial. For the purposes of understanding this important capability in early childhood we draw on notions of urutaunga.
