The Cultural Group & Enviro Group have worked together over the last couple of weeks to provide every family at Weedons School with the special gift of a karamū (coprosma) plant, in recognition of the school's name Te Kura o Karamū gifted to us by our local rūnanga Te Taumutu.

Last Thursday, at assembly, as part of our schoolwide focus on Tūrangawaewae & Kaitiakitanga, the Cultural Group explained the significance of our school's Māori name of Te Kura o Karamū. They have also made posters for every class to help remind them. 

This week the Cultural Group has worked with the Enviro Group, wrapping and tagging a karamū plant for every Weedons School family. A huge thank you needs to go to the Orari Nurseries for their kind donation and to Mrs Ford for seeing this opportunity and making it happen. Thank you also to Mrs Ford's father for his patient care of these plants over the last few months.

The plants will come home this Friday and we hope that every family will find a spot in their garden for this wonderful, versatile plant to flourish, symbolising an on-going connection to Weedons School.

Why Weedons School was gifted the name Te Kura o Karamū: 

The Karamū is a hardy plant that overcomes challenges and adversity. There are lots of different varieties and they grow well in lots of different conditions. It is adaptable, flexible and resilient. Te Taumutu Rūnanga believe that these characteristics (i.e the ability to overcome challenges, cope with adversity, to flourish in different situations, to be adaptable and to be resilient) are also part of the success of children at Weedons School and beyond.

Karamū seeds are widely dispersed by birds including bellbirds, tui and silver eyes. Traditionally, Māori used karamū for lots of different reasons, including using the leaves and bark for their medicinal qualities and dyeing harakeke fibres yellow.