Haere mai te taura i te Reo Māori. We recently celebrated Māori language week, giving us the opportunity to reflect on the privilege it is to teach and learn another of our national languages here at Columba. 

Te Reo Māori is taught in specialist classes from Years 0 to 9, and the language is incorporated into many aspects of school life across the curriculum. We are grateful for the support of our community in sharing resources such as marae visits to enhance our understanding of local Māori history and customs. Te Reo Māori is not only for Māori language week, but for every day at Columba.

The Junior School celebrated Māori language week by working together to create beautiful woven pieces of art as they interpreted their favourite myths and legends. Using a tuakana-teina (buddy system with older children working with younger children) model, the classes worked together to plan, design and create their art. Read more about their projects in the newsletter.

This term the Art Department also ran a Māori Art Exhibition in the Columba gallery, He Aho Tahuhu. Year 7 to 10 Art students produced mixed media pieces for exhibition, including their own wonderful waka huia.

Columba has a beautiful karakia, composed in 2009 by alumna Dr Cilla McQueen with the assistance of Paitu Whaitiri.

E TE ATUA
MO TE KURA HOMAI TO TAUTOKO,TO AWHINA,TO WAIRUA,
KI A TATOU KATOA.
NO REIRA, KIA MAU TE MANA OU KAI TAHU WHANUI
MO AKE, AKE, AKE,
AMINE.

Eternal Father,
We ask you to bless our School and each of us with the loving support, help and guidance of your Holy Spirit.
So may we always uphold the mana of our wider Kai Tahu family.
Amen

In these and many other ways our students are exposed to the language, art and traditions of Māori, and are therefore well prepared to make their way in bicultural Aotearoa. We welcome support from the College community, especially help to re-establish kapa haka or to share a field of expertise to enhance our programmes.

Ngā mihi, 

Juliette Hayes