By Ava Szabo – Principal
Kia Ora Koutou,
During this term, like many others at school, I have been studying te reo Māori. My study is thorugh Kāuru.
Kāuru was founded on the premise that each consecutive generation must be better than the one that has gone before, if te reo Māori is to flourish and prosper. Their mission is to grow and strengthen an education workforce that can integrate te reo Māori into the learning of all ākonga and students in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Our learning is a combination of night classes and noho wānanga. This weekend I was part of my first noho wānanga held in Ōtaki at Raukawa Marae.
This was a wonderful weekend of ako (learning) and understanding; building a foundation on which to grow our knowledge. We spent time learning about and discussing five important Mātāpono (māori principles), what they mean and how we give them expression. These are so important and definitly worth sharing.
- Māiatanga – To be bold, courageous, confident. One whakatauki that embodies this trait is ‘Tuwhitia te hopo’ – Feel the fear and do it anyway.
- Takohatanga – To give tirelessly for the greater good. To serve others for their betterment, not your own. Achieving positive transformation into Te ao mārama, the state of knowing and understanding. Whakatauki – Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi – With your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive.
- Rangatiratanga – To lead by example, to be humble, bring others together. Whakatauki – Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini – My success is not mine alone, but it is the strength of many.
- Manaakitanga – Caring and supportive, encouraging and enhancing others. Whakatauki – He taonga rongonui te aroha ki te tangata – Goodwill towards others is a precious treasure.
- Whanoketanga – Disruptive innovation, promoting the unique and unorthodox. Whakatauki – Rukuhia te wāhi ngaro – Explore the unknown.
What I have learnt is that this is the start of a journey.
A journey I highly recommend.