Matariki signals the Māori New Year and is a special time of remembrance, joy and peace.

This year our students engaged in various meaningful activities to deepen their understanding of tikanga Māori and kaupapa Matariki and what this celebration means to them.

We enjoyed impromptu waiata which helped us remember all the names of the stars. We worked on sequencing and engaging our listening skills when we learnt about the seven little fish and how they became stars in the cluster.

An NZSL bingo game helped build our vocabulary and comprehension of new words. We practised our social skills and logic strategies in a game of Mū Tōrere, where we learned how to block our opponent while getting to know each other.

After each activity, we recorded our learning in pairs and shared it with the broader group. Lastly, we enjoyed some delicious kai to celebrate our time together during Matariki. We had such a great time learning in Taupō. I tino pai o matou mahi katoa.