On the first day of Term 2 we were invited to participate in a Pōwhiri at the Arowhenua Māori School to welcome the school’s new principal.

Although it was a chilly morning the staff and children of the school were warm with excitement and we felt happy and privileged to join with them at this time of whakawhanaungatanga. The new principal Bronwyn Te Koeti says that 2016 will be "all about new beginnings" for the school and she looks forward to building relationships with the schools that her pupils will move on to.

Our small group consisted of past pupils of the Arowhenua Māori School and our NCEA Level 1 Te Reo Māori class. As well as supporting the school on this occassion, the Pōwhiri was an authentic learning experience for our boys which related directly to their classroom learning experiences.

‘Ko te manu e kai ana te miro, nōna te ngahere. Ko te manu e kai ana te mātauranga, nōna te ao’