Whanau Hui

It was great to meet at our Whanau Hui and discuss the plan for the year and future ideas around Cultural Responsiveness. We started our meeting by having a korero about what we are doing well within our kura to support Cultural Responsiveness. Mātua (parents) said:

- Children are transferring their learning into home, singing the waiata and performing haka

- Children are asking questions about their whakapapa

- They are taking pride in their involvement in kapa haka and their iwi

- Monday morning karakia and waiata is a lovely way to start the week

- Going to the Marae as a mātua and hearing that our singing was the best they had heard in 21 years!

- Children learning a pepeha at their level

We asked our Māori students what Nga Puna Tapuwai did that celebrated them being Māori. They said:

- Being with our friends and playing

- Singing waiata

- Monday morning karakia and waiata

- Visiting the Marae

- Celebrating Matariki and having a hangi

We then looked over our Cultural Responsiveness plan for 2021 and asked for any feedback or other ideas. There was a consensus that parents would like to learn more of the reo and waiata that are being used at school in order to be able to understand and use them at home as well. We are in the process of working out the best way to do this. Mātua were keen for us to be involved in the cultural festival this year and possibly creating our own uniforms for this, building a sense of pride and achievement in our tamariki. 

Mātua were keen for Māori tikanga to be more noticeable within our school grounds including natural play spaces and Māori reo visible. We also discussed the possibility of having Te Huaki in our school more often to teach more of the Māori Tikanga and also inviting someone in to take Te Reo Māori classes with our tamariki.

Thank you to all the tangata who came to share their ideas. 

Nga mihi nui

Amy