We began the last week of term 3 and our celebrations for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with staff kapa haka practice and our junior kapa haka performed for kaumātua at Metlifecare Highlands Retirement Village and lifted the wairua of everyone there. Whiria te tangata – weave the people together.   This year holds special significance as we commemorate 50 years of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Kia kaha tātou ki te kōrero Māori – let us be staunch in speaking Māori.  To prepare and build up for Te Wiki o te Reo Maori, we were fortunate to take representatives of our kapa haka to the Autaia Haka Theatre held at the Aotea Centre last month. What an inspiring way to see haka and storytelling come alive on stage led by rangatahi. Te toi whakairo, ka ihiihi, ka wehiwehi, ka aweawe te ao katoa. Artistic excellence makes the world sit up in wonder.

On Tuesday, our kura was privileged to hear from Kelly Teariki of Mana Inc for our Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori – Māori Language Moment. Whaea Kelly shared her reo journey and the inspiring mahi being done to uplift rangatahi at Mana Inc. Our ākonga responded with a powerful haka tautoko. He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.” What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people. 

On Thursday, our auditorium was alive with powerful waiata and haka in the evening as we celebrated Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with our South East Auckland Kāhui Ako through kapa haka. Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu – adorn the bird with feathers so it may soar.

We concluded our week of celebrations with Mass and shared kai with kaimahi, ākonga and whānau, giving thanks for the gifts of reo, faith and culture.

Heoi anō, kia maumahara – Te Wiki o te Reo Māori may finish, but our reo journey never does. He rama tāu kupu ki ōku waewae, he mārama ki tōku ara. Waiata 119:105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105.