Click to read more information about Te Ao Maori that is being done in our kura

Tēnā koutou e te whanau whanui o te Kura Takawaenga o Ōtūmoetai .

Awesome to see the use of te reo filtering through our school from students to kaiako, to tumuaki. Tauira using simple greetings and conversational skills, kaiako using te reo at assemblies, and our tumuaki doing whaikōrero to visitors, are all ways in which our kura is taking the first steps on te ara poutama, reinforcing our school whakataukī.

“Kia oke ngātahi tātou, ka ekea te taumata o Angitū”- When we strive together as one, we ascend the pinnacle of success.

Our Te Ao Maori programmes have been operating in many capacities.

We continue to have Karakia being said every morning across the school, and now at School Board level. In school, tauira have been learning mau rakau, poi and haka. Through our Te Ao Maori programme, tauira have proved themselves to be valuable as kaikorero, kaiarahi and manukura during the arrival of schools and visitors to our school. Some tauira are involved in the Takitimu learning hub, an afterschool homework whanau group based at Ōtūmoetai College.

Kaiako have entered into te reo classes at school, run by Janita Neal, and are beginning to embrace the language and its use.

During Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori, classes made the week their own. From reinforcing basic pronunciations and playing games, to stories and legends, to researching genealogy. Contemporary t.v docos- Mike McRoberts’ reo journey, and written articles -Tā Moko, provided space for in depth conversation and discussion. Hearing tītītōrea (stick games and songs), being pumped out at the end of the day was a great way to know that te reo was ‘alive’ at our kura. Classes even carried Te wiki o te reo Maori into camp at Ngatuhoa Lodge.

Although te wiki o te reo appears and champions te reo and te Ao Maori, it is the everyday use of te reo, that has been most pleasing to see, and hear being used informally and naturally.

However small, the use of Te Reo at Ōtūmoetai Intermediate is precious. Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu.

No reira, he pī ka rere ahau. Mā te hururhuru, ka rere te manu” . ‘ I am a fledging learning to fly. It is by each feather that I will be able to soar”

Acquire the confidence and knowledge in order to succeed.

“Kia oke ngātahi tātou, ka ekea te taumata o Angitū”- When we strive together as one, we ascend the pinnacle of success

Matua Takiri