Gathering to celebrate “he kākano”, some of the seeds and successes developing at Hauraki Plains College, was exactly what the school’s Whānau Informational Hui was all about on May 15.
With a purpose to bring whānau Māori and anyone else wanting to join together, the Whānau Hui was a time to introduce kaiako, or teachers, share curriculum and goals, “showcase our wonderful ākonga”, or students, and to kōrero about how the school can better meet the needs of its Māori students.
Some of the seeds and successes celebrated on the night included an increase in the number of Māori staff as well as an increase in the number of students studying Te Reo Māori and Māori cultural studies.
Also celebrated were the re-establishment of a Te Reo Māori department, and more training across the school for kaiako and ākonga to learn Tikanga and Te Reo Māori through karakia, waiata, and haka pōwhiri.
Te Reo Māori teachers Matua Normie Tautoru Te Whanake Rehutai Anderson and Matua Te Waiheruata Hōhua Hēnare Rāwiri, who is also a former student from the school, hosted the evening.
Matua Te Waiheruata said being back at the college was about returning to serve the community who helped him discover his potential as a Māori person, and who helped him to reclaim his language. He was there to “help our ākonga Māori” to be able to do the same, he said.
“I’m excited about helping to provide a stronger programme for te reo Māori across the school and to assist the school in being culturally responsive in today’s modern context.”
Matua Normie said he was proud of his continual journey to support “our kura, our kaiako, our ākonga, our hapori [community]” in building strong connections and relationships with each other. He said he was proud to have Matua Te Waiheruata by his side and to share their knowledge and experience in support of their kaupapa within the kura.
“My purpose is to ensure that we do not undermine the good work we have done and to continue to work alongside our Māori community and school to ensure that they have a voice and are heard,” Matua Normie said.
Head Student and co-leader in the Te Māngai Pāoho o Tikarahi Council (Māori student council) Daniel Sproul was at the whānau hui, and said it was “pretty important” to him because it offered parents and family members an idea about what was going on at school and what students would be learning.
His hope for other Māori students was: “being the best student they can be – just showing the Hauraki way”, Daniel said.
For anyone thinking about going to the next whānau hui, Daniel said: “just come with an open mind really – that’s it”.
“[An] open mind and don’t be shy.”
