A great opportunity for whanaungatanga and partnership within our school community.

On the evening of Tuesday 17 October, Rāroa held a hui for Māori whānau. This was a fantastic evening and our sincere gratitude goes out to the parents and students who attended. We had some lovely chats over kai and got to engage in some whanaungatanga, getting to know who everyone is and what their aspirations are for their children in the Māori cultural space.

Learning Leader Kayne Hawea and Deputy Principal Matt Boucher spoke to the group about the school’s priorities related to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Rāroa Normal Intermediate School is committed to addressing and rectifying historical discrimination in education and current unequal outcomes for Māori students across the motu. To do this we ensure that Māori student achievement is a priority which we monitor and continually strive to improve. We work to ensure that Māori culture is reflected and respected in all that we do, so that Māori students can feel connection and belonging to the kura, and a sense of pride in who they are.

We shared all of the things we do at Rāroa towards this end. This includes Te Reo Māori learning for both students and teachers, students leaning about the history of our school’s location, our Te Rangatahi kapa haka group, hosting kapa haka festivals, mihi whakatau for new students, our Ākonga Māori group, teacher professional development, helping to lead professional development across our Kahui Ako (collaboration of local schools), and our participation in the Kura Ahurea programme run by local iwi Te Ati Awa.

We were delighted to hear positive feedback about the effect that this has had on the Māori students present at the hui. One parent told us that her child had never taken an interest in his culture, despite her best attempts. This changed when he started at Rāroa and was immersed in an environment where Māori culture is visible, respected, and a part of what everyone does at school.

We plan to hold these Whānau Hui more often in the future, because connecting and forming partnerships with you is so important to us. We would love to see any of our Māori whānau at the next one. Ngā mihi nui!