“Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro nōnā te ngahere. Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga nōnā te ao.” The bird that consumes the miro berry owns the forest. The bird that consumes knowledge owns the world.”

Like the whakatauki above we have endeavoured to encourage our Rangi Ruru community to embrace Te Reo Māori. This week began with all our Year 9 and 10 Te Reo Māori students opening the week at the Generations assembly on Monday with Karakia/prayer, Mihi/greetings and a lovely waiata/song about the South Island.

Other activities over the week included a school wide quiz specific to our kura/school, tasting some paraoa parai/Māori fried bread with a choice of toppings, a screening of the movie Moana, and waiata in the Gibson centre on Monday, Wednesday and Friday lunchtimes.

All staff were given daily Te Reo Maori expressions to use with their classes ie Karawhiua/Give it a go! In addition the Year 7 and 8 students were set a challenge to speak as much Te Reo as possible on Friday.

Our school bell was changed to “Kia Mau ki te Ukaipo” Don’t forget your Roots by Six60 the recently released Te Reo Māori version. This song was also covered live by the Year 11 members of kapa haka during awards assembly on Friday after a beautiful kōrero by our music and Te Reo teacher Henare Kaa who spoke about the meaning of “whanau/family”.

Karawhuia te reo Māori! Give te reo Māori a go!