ARP is a pilot programme which is a collaboration between PHD student Teariki Tuiono from the University of Canterbury, local community businesses and Breens Intermediate School.

This project is all about empowering our students and our communities. Our students are the Aotearoa Rockstars and we want them front and centre in what we do. We are also wanting to create a community where everyone looks out for each other in a culturally responsive and respectful way.  We want our children to be proud of where they are from in Aotearoa and to share our language for everyone, everywhere.  

Our motto - Our language, for everyone, everywhere.

Our five key messages that our students worked on during our recent marae noho (marae sleep over) at Rāpaki resulted in the following take outs for this project.

Our Five Kaupapa

1. A language that belongs to us all

2. Start with small steps

3. Communities helping communities learn

4. Practice makes permanent

5. Be proud to be from Aotearoa

Ngā Kaupapa Matua

1. He reo mō tātou katoa

2. Kia āta haere

3. Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi

4. Whakaharataua, kia pūmau

5. Arohaina tō ake ūkaipō

Each week our students plan a focus for that week and then go out into the YMCA, Library and Greengrocer to meet and greet customers and encourage the use of te reo.     Everyone who "has a go" and engages with the students with some te reo is acknowledged with produce kindly donated by the Garden Fresh Greengrocers on Leacroft Street.

During  weekly professional development sessions with front line staff from each of these business, we go over weekly words and phrases and build on these each week to be used at their work place sites. We also develop their cultural awareness and capacity. This is fun, easy and gradual over a five week period. We encourage, empower and help staff be confident to take little steps with te reo Māori.

Teariki Tuiono, Nathan Riki and Nikki Clarke