Kia ora koutou. Welcome to Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori

This has been a big week!

Firstly we mark the passing of the Queen, a remarkable woman who was the longest serving royal monarch in Great Britain, reigning as Queen for 70 years. I personally was fortunate to speak with the Queen in person at the Oamaru Gardens on February 3rd, 1974 - aged six. When I reflect on what affects us most deeply at the Queen’s passing - it is a deep appreciation of the enormous sense of service and duty she had - even as a 25 year old taking over the responsibilities of her deceased father. She devoted her life to the service of her people, working tirelessly to connect with as many people as possible. I have asked the students to reflect on how much time we spend serving others - volunteering, giving back, spending time with family or simply helping out at home?

The monarchy, colonisation, growing together and acknowledging our past in Aotearoa New Zealand has been difficult. The New Zealand Wars and other struggles are an important part of our history and Māori land, language and culture have fought to be reclaimed and restored throughout the 1970s up until today. There is still a long way to go. Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori is an important time to recognise indigenous language. Despite efforts by the United Nations, every fortnight an indigenous language becomes extinct. Through the vision of Māori in the 1980s, kohunga reo ‘language nests’ and kura kaupapa ‘immersion Māori language schools’ were nurtured. The New Zealand government has pledged to ensure 1 million residents are able to speak basic Māori by 2040. It is fabulous to see our rangatahi taking every opportunity to learn and use te reo words and phrases. It was especially wonderful to attend Polyfest last night where Tamaiti o le Moana and Wairua Pūhou wowed the audience with their amazing performances and many many students, ex-students and teachers turned up to support.

Sports Day was a fabulous occasion, marking some return to the normal running of our school events. As you are aware we are no longer required to wear masks in school and the traffic light settings have disappeared. This allows us to reflect meaningfully on the past two years and choose joy in moving forward to freedom. I am encouraging students to make the most of their faces, their expressions and their hearts to reach other people and show positivity in moving through the pandemic. We are stressing the importance of other hygiene measures and are respecting the right of students and teachers to continue to wear a mask.

Kia pai to rā - have a great day!