Tēnā koutou e te whānau. Our first whānau hui for the year was held in the staffroom on Tuesday evening, March 3rd.

This was a great opportunity for our school whānau to meet together to discuss Māori students, Māori pathways and kaupapa Māori in our school. We were able to collect some wonderful feedback to help ensure that we are culturally responsive to the needs of our Māori whānau. Thank you to our two senior leaders; Katarina Cox-Winiata and Amiria Tikao, who gave informative presentations about their roles in the school and their goals for the year. Thank you also to the staff and families who came out for the evening to support our hui. Particular acknowledgment must be given to our Board of Trustees representative Yohanna Gulliver who came along to talk about the whānau focus group, which will provide ongoing whānau voice and offer further support where needed.

We were also fortunate on the same evening to have the Ngāi Tahu education officer come into the school to talk to Ngāi Tahu families about initiatives and support that can be offered to help connect our students to their iwi. Thankyou very much to Rhea Te Aika-Puanaki for her time and energy in helping ensure that our Ngāi Tahu families are well informed, supported and are able to engage with the iwi.

Lastly, the staff and students have been singing a Ngāi Tahu waiata during assemblies and for school pōwhiri and mihi whakatau. I have provided a link here for any whānau who may be interested in learning the waiata alongside the students.

Here is the link to the song: Ka haea te ata song

Here is the link to the words: Ka haea te ata words