At Ōtūmoetai Intermediate, there are a range of Te Ao Māori programmes that students can be involved in. These programmes support the learning of Te Reo Māori, tikanga, history, and viewing local and world issues through a Māori lens.

From the very first day of school this year, our tauira (students) were instrumental in providing the necessary pōhiri and tikanga for our school to welcome our new Yr 7 students. From then, they have been a huge assistance and have been representatives of our school, and  community.

 Within our school, all students recite the school karakia across the school every morning as a positive start to our day. Our karakia is led by our Manukura over the intercom and at school assemblies. Throughout the school, te reo classes have consisted of learning about ourselves through pepehā and whakapapa (genealogy), community knowledge, and games. We learnt our relationship to our hāpori (community) through  knowledge of waka, iwi, hapū, and whenua connections.

Our Manukura leaders were a part of  National Young Leaders Day and were inspired by speakers  under the theme ‘Stronger together’ in order to be great leaders. This theme fit perfectly with our school whakatauāki of “Kia oke ngātahi tātou, ka ekea te taumata o angitū.” ‘When we strive as one, we ascend the pinnacle of success’. From here we moved into our Matariki phase learning about our stars and their relationship to us culminating in our kapa haka celebrating with song and haka at school assembly.

Te Kāhui Tui ā Kinomoerua, is the whaikōrero (oratory)  group that met once a week and learnt basic whaikōrero skills enabling some to speak on behalf of our groups. Our mau rakau group has also seen students build their skill level and self-esteem. Students have extended their knowledge and now have confidence, and understanding of the basic skills they have acquired, and continue to learn, develop, and  fill their kete for the future.

Te Okohanga kapa haka and Poutama made steady progress through the year although performances were limited. We stood at Showcase and combined with Ōtūmoetai College to stand at Te Rā Rēhia. Poutama kapa haka also enjoyed their time and became proficient in their school bracket. Well done to all tauira who remembered and understood words, actions, and tunes, all the while smiling through their bracket of songs and injecting kaha into their haka.

Overall, te ao Māori continues to grow within our kura through class, and school-wide programmes allowing visons, goals, and aspirations to become attainable. We develop and grow as a school with the input of all, bringing us back to our school whakatauāki...,

“Kia oke ngātahi tātou, ka ekea te taumata o angitū”
When we strive together we reach the pinnacles of success.

Matua Takiri
Kaiarahi I te reo