After ten years of planning, our Waha Ātea has finally been installed...

We held the blessing on the morning of Thursday, 19 June. The day began at 5:30am as we prepared to welcome whānau from our community, Mayor Vince Cocurullo, staff, and the tamariki mā of Te Whānau o Waimirirangi to mark this significant occasion.

This event was a moment to honour the legacy of the rangatira who, 43 years ago, made it possible for te reo Māori me ōna tikanga to find a rightful and enduring place within our kura.

At long last, their legacy is acknowledged and held with deep pride by us all. Ngā mihi nui to Whaea Eden, Whaea Patsy and Whaea Neke for their leadership in planning and coordinating the event. It was a huge undertaking, and their mahi was appreciated by everyone who came to be part of this historic moment.

Korero na Whaea Hayley:

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā rau rangatira mā, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.   On behalf of the Board of Trustees, staff, and students of Te Kura Takawaenga o Whangārei, I would like to thank you all for joining us this morning to witness this momentous occasion. My name is Hayley Read, and I have the privilege of serving as the Tumuaki of our kura. I am truly humbled and deeply appreciative of the immense effort that has gone into making today’s unveiling of our Waha Ātea such a significant and memorable event. It is something our tamariki will carry with them and share with their whānau for many years to come.

This journey began some years ago, following the passing of our rangatira, Toka Totoro. The idea of creating a Pou Whakahonore emerged during hui held with whānau. In 1982, Whaea Eileen Parore and Matua Toka Totoro were teaching here at Whangārei Intermediate School, in what are now Te Pā Maioro and Te Takimano  (Ruma 9 and 10). They were teaching English-medium classes while integrating Te Reo Māori me ōna Tikanga into their students’ learning—a practice that, at the time, was neither accepted nor supported by school leadership or systems. Yet they remained undeterred. In fact, the Principal of the day was known to hide under his desk whenever he heard Whaea Eileen approaching the office.

Thanks to their unwavering commitment, we now stand on foundations built by their courage and determination. In the years since, we have proudly offered up to five bilingual classes and two immersion classes. This legacy continues to shape the identity of our kura.

We are fortunate to have always been guided by the wisdom and support of our kaumātua and kuia. Their knowledge, experience, and strength have been invaluable. It is fitting that their contributions are now woven into our Waha Ātea, where they will be remembered and honoured by future generations of tamariki.

As we celebrate the rising of Puanga today, we also begin the next chapter—capturing these stories. We hope to produce a pukapuka that shares the kōrero of each rangatira memorialised here, told by the whānau who represent them today.

I leave you with this whakataukī: E hara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. My strength is not that of an individual, but of many.  Thank you all for contributing to this special and unforgettable day.

No reira……..... I tipu mai te mauri

                      Te mauri nui

                      Te mauri roa

                      Te mauri whakaaro

                      Ki te whei ao

                      Ki te ao marama

                      Haumie, hui e, taiki e!