Ko tou reo, ko toku reo, te tuakiri tangata. Tihei uriuri, tihei nakonako.

The school was humming with Te Reo last week as staff developed their repertoire of waiata and students explored their use of Te Reo. 

The week began early with the Māori Awards evening at St Thomas of Canterbury, where schools from our cluster met to celebrate the achievements of our akonga. 

Each school presented their rangatahi for awards, and were supported by their kapahaka in a special evening. 

The winners of awards for our school were Te Marino Roberts, Melanie Aitken, Thomas Chin, Shannon Taua, Brin Williams, Jade Jenkins, Alana Hillary, Cassidy Taua and Fifita Taahafe. 

Congratulations to these students, and a special thanks to the kapahaka for their tautoko.

During the week, our Te Reo classes entertained the children from Our Lady Of Victories and Riccarton primary School in the library, reading, playing games, singing and learning together. 

It was great to see this example of teina/ tuakana in action, and Riccy Raccoon made a welcome addition to the party.

The cultural assembly on Wednesday continued the theme of inclusiveness with performances from India and the Pacific – he whānau kotahi tātou – and Friday saw the Ki o r­āhi competition on the field at lunchtime. 

The kapahaka wananga this weekend will end te Wīki o te Reo Māori in a fitting way. 

The 39 students of the kapahaka are giving up a lot of their time to practise for the regional competition during Labour Weekend, with the support of a committee of parents and, of course, of Mātua Mike – aroha nui ki ā koutou ma.