Hero photograph
Waiata
 
Photo by Anthea Hunt

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

AGHS —

Avonside Girls’ High School celebrated Te Wiki o te reo Māori with a range of activities organised by Mana Kotiro, our Māori school council. The council organised to have waiata play instead of bells, which was a beautiful reminder for students to head to class. The students opened and closed the day with karakia over loudspeakers and shared whakatauki in the middle of the school day.

They also organised a range of lunchtime activities. There was raranga (weaving) taught by Whaea Hēni on Monday. Tuesday was chalk drawing in the cultural courtyard and Wednesday was Ki o Rahi on the back field. Our Kapa Haka group performed waiata and haka in the front of the school on Thursday and on Friday Mana Kotiro made a feast of fried bread to support the hangi provided by Shirley Boys’ High School.

Avonside Girls’ High School has a growing population of students and whānau who identify as Māori. We are around 25% Māori and this diversity adds so much value to our kura – it is worth celebrating. As a kura we are working hard to normalise the inclusion of Māori culture and reo into our school life, so Te Wiki o te reo Māori is happening everyday of the school year.