TE REO ME ONA TIKANGA MĀORI
TE REO ME ONA TIKANGA MĀORI
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Te Ao Māori o Te Kura o Hāto Ani
Te Ao Māori o Te Kura o Hāto Ani
Goals:
Implement and maintain an elementary level Te Reo programme through the school; integrating where possible with all curriculum areas.
Continue to develop an understanding of Tikanga through the school with regular powhiri, visits to Marae etc.
Develop and sustain effective and productive communication between our whanau and the school.
Support positive Māori Role Models for our students.
Te Reo Māori and Bicultural Learning at Our School
Te Reo Māori and Bicultural Learning at Our School
At our school, the teaching of Te Reo Māori reflects our commitment to the New Zealand Curriculum, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and our Catholic faith. We value Te Reo Māori as a taonga and support all students to grow in language, culture, identity, and respect for others.
Our Catholic faith calls us to honour the dignity of every person. Through Te Reo Māori and bicultural learning, students are encouraged to live our values of aroha, service, courage, and excellence, fostering compassion, respect, and a strong sense of belonging.
Holistic Approaches to Learning and Behaviour
Learning at our school is guided by holistic approaches that recognise the importance of the whole child — socially, emotionally, spiritually, culturally, and academically. We support positive behaviour through:
• Strong relationships and clear expectations
• Teaching self-regulation, empathy, and responsibility
• Creating safe, inclusive learning environments grounded in respect and care
These approaches align with both Catholic teachings and Māori perspectives on wellbeing, where relationships, community, and care for others are central.
Te Reo Māori and Kaupapa Māori Learning
Our curriculum also integrates Kaupapa Māori perspectives across learning topics. Through contexts such as Māui and other Māori pūrākau, students explore values, identity, resilience, and creativity while making meaningful connections across learning areas.
Kapa Haka – Intermediate Programme
Our intermediate team participates in kapa haka once a week, providing opportunities for students to:
• Learn waiata, haka, and movement
• Build confidence, discipline, and teamwork
• Strengthen understanding of tikanga Māori
• Express pride in Aotearoa New Zealand’s bicultural heritage
Kapa haka supports learning through movement, performance, and language, reinforcing connection, wellbeing, and cultural identity.
Why this matters
The New Zealand Curriculum recognises Te Reo Māori as a foundational language of Aotearoa New Zealand. Through Te Reo Māori, kapa haka, and Kaupapa Māori learning, we aim to nurture students who are faith-filled, confident, culturally responsive, and caring members of their community.
These key factors are seen as critical to enhancing and strengthening Māori engagement and communication:
Leadership:
Relationships:
School culture:
Partnerships:
Community networks:
Ako
Ako
Ako is a dynamic form of learning where the educator and the student learn from each other in an interactive way. Ako is grounded in the principle of reciprocity and recognises that the student and whānau cannot be separated.
When ako is a key element of teaching and learning, educators’ practices are informed by the latest research and are both deliberate and reflective.
Identity, language and culture count
Identity, language and culture count
Students do better in education when, what and how they learn builds on what is familiar to them, and reflects and positively reinforces where they come from, what they value and what they already know. Māori students are more likely to achieve when they see themselves, their parents, whānau, hapū, iwi and community reflected in learning and teaching.
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