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Monday 14th September | Vol 36 Issue 29 | Term 3 Week 9
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Why do we support Te Wiki o te Reo Māori?
Dannielle King - Te Reo kaiako
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This week is Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (TWOTRM), Māori Language Week. Today, the 14th of September, commemorates the 54th anniversary of the Māori Language Petition being delivered to parliament and the 51st Māori Language week.
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Te Reo Māori is the indigenous language of Aotearoa New Zealand, carrying the stories, identity, and worldview of our first people. Once the primary language of the country, it survived a century of systemic suppression to become an official language in 1987.
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While decades of protest and community effort (the kōhanga reo movement, kura kaupapa, Māori television and radio broadcasts, and public learning and exposure) have fuelled a reo Māori renaissance, the language revitalisation remains fragile. There is a statistic often mentioned that says a language takes one generation to be endangered but three generations to fully revive. I have read reports that cautiously put us in the second generation, with some tamariki now being raised with Te Reo as their first language, learning from parents and whānau who have been the first generation to learn after the generational loss from their grandparents' or great-grandparents' time.
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In today’s political climate where there have been debates over Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the use of Te Reo in the public sector, supporting Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is more crucial than ever. Championing Te Reo Māori during TWOTRM is not a political statement; it is a commitment to preserving our unique cultural taonga (treasure). Embracing the language in daily conversations, workplaces, and schools ensures that Te Reo Māori does not just survive, but thrives for generations to come.
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This year there is a theme for each day of the week, with accompanying resources to download. You can find them at https://www.reomaori.co.nz. The theme for Monday 14th is Te Reo I te Wāhi Tangata - take Te Reo to the streets. Many of our ākonga have attended the Parade in Wellington today, and others took a hīkoi around the block to sing some waiata.
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Earlier this year we published a glossary of some common kupu Māori (words) that you may hear around the community, as many of these kupu are now commonplace, and you may hear them or see them in emails without a translation. If you aren’t sure of the pronunciation, Te Aka (maoridictionary.co.nz) is a great resource as you can hear the word spoken aloud, or feel free to pop in and see me in the office.
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Haere rā – Goodbye to someone who is leaving
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Enoho rā – Goodbye to someone leaving
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Ka kite – see you (very informal)
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Whakarongo mai – listen to me
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Pōtae – hat, head covering
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Wharepaku – bathroom/toilet
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Kia kaha i te Reo Māori e te whānau!
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Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Whānau Evening
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We are excited to be holding a Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Education Evening for all Wā Ora whānau and ākonga on Friday 18th September, 5pm to 7pm in T2 at the High School campus.
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We’ll begin with shared kai from 5pm to 5.30pm, so please bring a plate to share (and own plates, cutlery etc). From there, we’ll enjoy waiata, a short look at the history of te reo Māori, pronunciation and reading tips, a fun quiz, and some simple opportunities to practise reo together. There will also be activities for ngā tamariki.
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Whether you already use some te reo Māori or are just beginning, everyone is welcome.
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E WHAI AKE (Coming up) . . .
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Monday 14th - Friday 18th September Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week)
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Monday 14th September Primary Parent Education Evening, 7pm - 8:30pm, Tōtara
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Tuesday 15th September Drama Club (9-12 and High School ākonga), 3:15pm - 4:15pm, T2
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Wednesday 16th September Maths Club, 3:30 - 4:30pm, Tāwari
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Friday 18th September Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Whānau Evening, 5pm - 7pm, T2
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Monday 21st September - Tuesday 22nd September Tāwari Whānau Conferences, 3:30pm - 7pm
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Monday 21st September Peace Day Annual Ceremony, 9am to 10am (breakfast from 8:15am)
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Monday 21st September BOT/Council Hui, 7pm - 10pm, Tāwari
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Tuesday 22nd September Drama Club (9-12 and High School ākonga), 3:15pm - 4:15pm, T2
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Wednesday 23rd September Maths Club, 3:30 - 4:30pm, Tāwari
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Thursday 24th September Kawakawa Coffee House
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Friday 25th September Whānau Hui, 5pm - 7pm, Tōtara
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Friday 25th September LAST DAY TERM 3
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Saturday 26th September to Sunday 11th October School Holidays
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Monday 12th October FIRST DAY TERM 4
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Happening Tonight! - Primary Parent Education Evening
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Do you have a tamaiti in a 6-9 class? Do you have a five year old who is about to join Primary? Monday is the perfect night for you to come along and find out more about how we structure literacy in Primary, following the strong foundation in Preschool.
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Robyn and Anna will be taking you through the grammar boxes, how we explore word study and sentence analysis and show you how a piece of writing can be constructed. Anna will give an overview of the Phonics testing we do at 20 and 40 weeks.
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In order to make the most of this opportunity, we would love more people to join us, so please send your RSVP to anna@waora.school.nz or the office, and we will see you tonight in Rātā class at 7pm.
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Hoodie & Sports T-shirt Orders Open Tomorrow
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Orders for Wā Ora hoodies and sports T-shirts will open tomorrow. They are available twice a year, with delivery at the beginning of Term 2 & Term 4.
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- Hoodies: Available for ākonga and whānau.
- Sports T-shirts: Required for students playing school sports, but also great for PE days in Primary and High School.
To receive your order by the start of Term 4, orders must be placed and paid for by 11am, Thursday 24th September.
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Please complete the form below to order. All sizing, pricing, and payment details are on the forms, and delivery will be to the school for collection.
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Payment can be made via EFTPOS at the school office or via internet banking.
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Hoodie payments should be paid into account ASB A/c 12-3209-0438285-00 (please enter your child’s first initial, surname, and the word [HOODIE] in the reference field).
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Sports T-shirt payments should be paid into account ASB A/c 12-3209-0438306-00 (please enter your child’s first initial, surname, and the word [SPORTS T] in the reference field).
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Please help Sharon by paying into the correct account.
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You can access the order forms here:
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Peace Day Ceremony
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Our annual International Peace Day ceremony is taking place next Monday, 21st September and all whānau are warmly invited to attend. The theme of "Invest in Peace - For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day" invites us all to do our part for peace.
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The celebrations will begin with a shared breakfast on the Preschool deck (toast, spreads, and fruit provided) from 8:00am. At around 9:05am whānau will make their way to the Primary court area for a 9:15am start of waiata and speeches, with an end time of around 10am. If the weather is not conducive to an outdoor celebration we will move the celebration to T2.
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As per last year, ākonga will be given the opportunity in their classes to write or draw a message of peace. Their messages will be burnt on the brazier as the focal point during our Peace Day ceremony. This is to symbolise the sharing of messages of peace, sent out to the world.
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Term 4 Invoicing
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Due to upcoming leave, Sharon will be sending Term 4 invoices slightly earlier than usual, next week. Please note that invoice due dates will remain the same.
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Primary Afterschool Care invoices for September will be sent when Sharon returns, in week 3 of Term 4.
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At the end of each term, our librarian Hannah collects all Primary issued books to ensure none are missing. We kindly ask whānau to check at home for any school library books and return them this week. If books are not returned, invoices will be sent out during Term 4.
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Mental Health Awareness Week
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At Wā Ora we know how important it is that our students and staff feel they belong, which is why we’re taking part in Mental Health Awareness Week 2026 (12th-18th October). This year’s theme is Belonging Matters. We’ll be marking the week by celebrating the small, everyday moments that create connections and build a stronger, more inclusive school.
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P.T.A (PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION)
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Coming Up
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Upcoming Meetings:
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Tuesday 13th October, 7:30pm (location TBC)
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Musical Stars - Annie JR.
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Musical Stars presents Annie JR at the Little Theatre in Lower Hutt. Annie is a heartwarming, family-friendly musical filled with unforgettable songs, lively dance numbers, and an inspiring story of hope and resilience. Follow the adventures of the spirited orphan Annie as she searches for a brighter future and discovers that anything is possible when you believe in tomorrow.
We are excited to share that Jocelyn & Jack (Puriri) will be performing in the 6:30pm show on the 18th September and the 6:00pm show on the 21st September.
Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/nz/event/20001
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School Holiday Creative Writing Workshop
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Tech Events for High School Ākonga
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Wellington High School Year 13 student Santoso is running two upcoming events for high school ākonga interested in technology. Both offer opportunities to learn new skills, get creative and meet other young people interested in tech, and no previous experience is required.
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KiwiHacks Nova – 28th / 29th September
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KiwiHacks Nova is a free, space-themed, 24-hour hackathon for high school students. Participants will work in teams to create their own technology projects while developing skills in teamwork, creative problem-solving and digital technology.
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All skill levels are welcome, including complete beginners. Registration is free, with food and merchandise included.
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Boba Bash Wellington – Saturday 17th October
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Interested in building websites, meeting like-minded people and drinking boba? Boba Bash Wellington brings teens together to learn, create websites and connect with others interested in technology.
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No previous website-building experience is needed, just an interest in learning something new.
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KidzStuff Theatre for Children presents 'Rainbows & Fishes' by Peter Wilson
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NOTICES
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Weetbix Kids TRYathlon 2027
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We will be entering a school team into next year’s TRYathlon.
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Distances are approximate and are as follows;
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- 6 year olds 50m swim / 1.5km run
- 7 year olds 50m swim / 4km cycle / 1.5km run
- 8 – 9 year olds 100m swim / 4km cycle / 1.5km run
- 10 – 15 year olds 150m swim / 8km cycle / 1.5 km run
- Splash & Dash - 6 year olds only. Swim and run.
- Individual TRYathlete - 7-15 year olds. Swim, cycle and run.
- Teams of Two - 7-9 year olds (Juniors) and 10-15 year olds (Seniors). One team member does the swim, the other does the cycle, and both do the run.
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GKR Karate Free Trial
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