Please read the following message from Marty Needham

Kia ora e te whānau,

Kō Marty tōku ingoa. I am a Māori parent representative on the Board of Trustees here at Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo.

A key part of my role on the board involves ensuring our kura remains culturally responsive to the needs of whānau. We believe that it’s important that a Māori worldview is reflected the school’s governance for all our tamariki and the wider school community.

For me, bringing these concepts to life simply means a focus on relationships. It is through connections with our people (past and present), our place and our purpose - and the way these elements co-exist that makes Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo so unique.

Bringing these relationships to life ensures all our tamariki are given the opportunity to thrive.

One of the ways we do this is through our annual Whānau Hui which was held in Term 2. This event was kicked-off with an impressive performance from our very enthusiastic (and VERY large) kapa haka rōpū, followed by our consultation with the parents of our Māori students. Our hui are always well-attended by whānau and provide a fantastic opportunity to report back to our community as well as giving our tamariki a platform to express themselves and their learning through their culture.

An exciting project in the pipeline is a new school mural which will be installed in the school hall. This mural will outline the cultural narrative of our kura: our relationship with and acknowledgment of mana whenua, our unique position in the world and our shared values. The mural has been designed by Daniel Caigou and work will begin on this soon. Watch this space!

If you are interested in connecting with our Māori school community or joining future hui, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. You’ll see me doing the school drop-off/pick-up or feel free to drop into the office to leave a message.

Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa,

Marty Needham