On the second day of school, we were able to hold our first mihi whakatau for 2023 - welcoming our new students and their whānau.

A mihi whakatau is a less formal version of a pōwhiri.  The structure and kawa (protocol) of our mihi whakatau at Te Ara Maurea has been given to us by mana whenua, Ngāi Tūāhuriri.

It was with much pride and enthusiasm that representatives from our kapa haka rōpū welcomed our new students and whānau for 2023 with a haka pōwhiri.

Once everyone had entered the hall, Josh Pretty, Presiding Chair, spoke on behalf of the school, welcoming our new students and whānau to Te Ara Maurea Roydvale School.  Following on from Josh Pretty's kōrero, Shaun Ogilvie spoke on behalf of the manuhiri (the group being welcomed). As part of Shaun's kōrero, he mentioned one our school values, manawanui - perseverance.  Shaun shared with us that this word means being 'big hearted', having patience and determination.

The formal side of the mihi whakatau was then completed with a hongi between Josh and Shaun, and then both parties sharing in some kai together.  Our newest members of our school community were invited back to the staffroom for kai, while the rest of the school returned to their homerooms for kai.

Many thanks to our kapa haka rōpū, Josh Pretty and Shaun Ogilvie for their time and expertise in helping to make our mihi whakatau a very natural part of our school culture.