"Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.”

This year we have continued our programmes of Manukura (leadership), Te Ara Poutama (reo and tikanga), Kapa haka, and working with Ōtūmoetai College in the Takitumu learning hub.

Our Manukura students have been involved in hosting a variety of schools and visitors to our kura from around the Bay of Plenty and Waikato districts. This has involved many pōhiri, mihi whakatau, whaikorero and the many facets of showing manaakitanga. They attended the much anticipated National Young leaders and were inspired to hone their leadership skills in order to make a difference. Our students were involved in the revitalisation project at Te Ranga, and attending several community events, and hui, as representatives of our kura.

Our Te Ara Poutama programme has further developed students' acquisition of phrases and kupu in the reading and speaking of Te Reo . We have also worked on elements of tikanga, mau rakau, weaving, and Marae protocols/kawa.

Our Takitumu learning hub for Māori and Pasifika students was a wonderful way for our Year 8 students to meet students, whānau (families), and kaiako (teachers) from the college. We attended each Wednesday from 3:30-5pm, in Term 2 and 3. Students were provided with extra help with homework/school learning, and kai was shared at the end of every session.

Our Kapa haka have worked hard on Friday afternoons and throughout many lunchtimes in preparation for our highly successful Te Ra Rehia festival. This culminated in an awesome performance at this ra whakangahau. Ka rawe koutou!