Ma te huruhuru, Ka rere te manu: Adorn the bird with feathers so it can fly

During Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week our Year Nine students, staff, and student Maori leaders were involved in our second Nayland College Hui Taurima. The Hui Taurima is a festival of learning for Matariki that involves three days of place and culturally responsive learning activities.

The first day involved a pōwhiri at Whakatū marae and a Place-Responsive Wero. Our students were a credit to the school with over 300 students and staff participating in two pōwhiri throughout the day. The students supported our speaker by singing waiata and listening attentively to the Kaumatua and Kuia from Ngāti Koata. Our students heard and learnt the stories and legends behind the different whakairo and heard the stories of the Tukutuku panels from one of the kuia. After each of the pōwhiri each group of students and the Kaumatua from Ngāti Koata enjoyed delicious kai prepared and presented by some of our senior hospitality students.

The Wero included a photo-orienteering challenge based at Founders Park, the Centre of New Zealand tracks, the Japanese gardens and Whakatū Marae. The students worked in small teams and learnt the stories and history stories of local places such as Pikimai/Church hill and the Pokohiwi/Boulder Bank while completing their photo-orienteering challenges.

For the following two days Year 9 students started the day with presentations in the hall where they learnt about the significance of Matariki, Pacific Voyaging and Navigation, and the flight of the Kuaka. We were fortunate to have Kate Souness share her expertise in Waka Hourua and Polynesian Navigation, and Ihaka Griffin Matthews who shared his expertise in whaikōrero and Mau Rākau.

For the remainder of the two days students were involved in activities of their choice. It was an absolute pleasure to see passionate teachers running a wide variety of meaningful activities across the curriculum and to see our students so engaged in their learning. This event was an opportunity for Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) to be acknowledged and integrated across the learning areas.

Many students had an opportunity to be the masters in an area of knowledge that was made possible through the Hui Taurima activities. These included opportunities to create an art piece, carving, a kawakawa balm, books of stories and legends, a kite, a harakeke puti/flax flower. There were also groups learning through Kaitiakitanga, paddling kayaks and waka ama.

Please view the video attached to see some of the many highlights of our Hui Taurima.

Nga mihi

Jane Townsend
Deputy Principal