Te Ara (the Pathway) is designed to enable students to participate fully in their life at Rangi Ruru and develop the skills to transition successfully into the world beyond. The focus is on the four strands of Hauora, Citizenship, Te Ao Māori and Careers and Pathways.

Te Ara aims to help students develop the Rangi Graduate Profile skills and dispositions across a vast range of subjects such as religions and beliefs, health, life skills, self-management, Tikanga Māori, wellbeing, sustainability, innovation and community projects.

These classes form part of students’ weekly timetables and develop with students as they progress from Years 7 to 13. Through Te Ara, our aspiration is that each student will become a person who knows themselves and their place in the world, locally, nationally and globally.

A wonderful learning opportunity for all Year 9 ākonga and accompanying staff, as part of the Year 9 Te Ara (Te Ao) and social studies experience, took place last Friday, with a visit to Rehua Marae and a journey of discovery with Waka on Avon. 

At Rehua Marae, ākonga participated in and learned the protocols of the Pōwhiri; then in groups, they expanded on and practised their mihimihi and toured the grounds of the Marae.

Waka on Avon provided an amazing historical and cultural trip on Ōtākaro Avon River. Students paddled a hand-crafted waka down the Avon, and learnt about the importance of the waka to Māori culture. Along the way, they heard stories of Canterbury's Ngāi Tahu iwi and the earliest European settlers, and the positive things they achieved building the city of Ōtautahi Christchurch together.

Further photos can be found here. Note: Students were split into two groups for the day. Due to the nature of the visits, this meant the photographer could only follow one group of the students for the excursion.