Ko wai ahau?

Ko Ngongotahā Ko Moumoukai ko Tauhara ngā maunga

Ko Te Rotoruanui a Kahumatamomoe ko Taupō nui a Tia ngā roto

Ko Waitetī ko Utuhina ko Nūhaka ko Waipahīhī ngā awa

Ko Te Arawa ko Takitimu ngā waka

Ko Te Arawa ko Ngāti Kahungunu ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa ngā iwi

Ko Ngāraranui ko Ngāti Tūnohopū ko Ngāti Rakaipaka ko Ngāti Hinerau ngā hapū

Ko Waiteti ko Para Te Hoata Te Kohea ko Manutai ngā marae

He uri ahau nō ngā hapū kua whakahuatia, i tipu ake au i konei, i waenganui i ngā awa, ngā maunga me ngā roto o te takiwā nei. He tama nō Raukura, ā, he tino hōnore te hoki mai ki te tautoko i te kura me te hapori o Raukura.

I come from the hapū mentioned above and grew up surrounded by the rivers, mountains, and lakes of this area. I’m an Old Boy of Raukura, and it’s a real honour to be back, giving back to the school and community of Rotorua Boys’ High School.

Te Hiranga O Matariki - Matariki Teacher Only Day

Our Matariki Teacher Only Day kicked off with a rich and thought-provoking maramataka wānanga led by Tōhunga Jade Kameta. We explored the whakapapa of the lunar calendar and learned that it’s not just about the moon phases – it’s also about tuning into the tohu o te taiao, the natural signs that mark the turning of the seasons. From there, kaiako broke into a series of hands-on, engaging workshops. These included Matariki Connections & Kēmu Māori – diving into the whakapapa of Matariki and connecting through Māori games and storytelling; Māori Models of Wellbeing using the Whiti te Rā framework; Tiki Āhua – shaping our whakaaro into clay; Raranga – weaving kono from harakeke; and a waiata session to help new staff learn our school waiata. The day was a special chance for our team to wānanga, reconnect, and embrace the mātauranga of Matariki together.