Thank you to Danya Kerr, one of our third year teacher trainees who wrote a beautiful song in te reo for Mānuka and Mataī.

He rite tonu tātou ki te mānuka - We are like the Mānuka tree

Nā tō tātou reka - Because of our sweetness

Ka mahi wara - We do desirable work

Ka mahi tika - We do correct work

Ka mahi whakamana - We do empowering work

He rite tonu tātou ki te mataī - We are like the Mataī tree

Nā te tiakitanga - Because of our protectiveness

Ka mahi rata - We do quiet work

Ka mahi hira - We do important work

Ka mahi whakakaha - We do strengthening work.

This waiata connects the students of Room 11 and 12 to what is special about the Mānuka and Mataī trees. The Mānuka tree produces sweet pollen that attracts many native insects just like the work that the students do. The Mānuka tree is used to make all sorts of different tools and objects each with their own purpose just like these students follow their passion and what is right for them. The Mānuka tree protects low growing natives from wind and rain, empowering and helping the smaller plants to grow while the students in these classrooms protect and empower their peers. The Mataī tree is used for different parts of buildings protecting everything inside. The Mataī tree grows really slowly into a large, important, and strong tree just like these students who quietly get into their work and produce amazing, important, and strong mahi. I have loved learning and growing alongside these ākonga.

Danya Kerr