Nau mai haere mai ki Te Ao Māori initiative!
🏔️ Ko Hikororoa te maunga 🏔️
🏞️ Ko Waikouaiti te awa 🏞️
🛶 Ko Takitimu te waka 🛶
🏠 Ko Puketeraki te marae 🏠
👨👩👧👦 Ko Ngai Tahu te Iwi 👨👩👧👦
🙋♂️ Ko Steven Van Nes Toku Ingoa 🙋♂️
To say that I am proud to lead a new initiative for ACCoS in Te Ao Māori would be an understatement. On Rātu te Takau o Haratua* we officially launched this new initiative for our kura* with In School Leaders, Principals and Dane Tumahai from Ngāti Whātua.
Ngā mihinui to Dane for representing Ngāti Whātua as manawhenua* for our Kāhui Ako. Dane opened the proceedings with karakia, mihi, kōrero on local history and acknowledgements of the relationship between our schools and manawhenua. Although this relationship is in its early stages, both Ngāti Whātua and ACCoS acknowledge the importance of the bond between local rohe and kura and made a commitment to ongoing communication and growth in this area.
I had the honour of giving a mihi on behalf of Suzanne Parkinson, ASL for Te Ao Māori and Jane Bush, Champion of the initiative. I gave acknowledgements to the tūpuna* and rangatira* of Ngāti Whātua and expressed gratitude for them helping guide our journey.
7am at Ōkahu Bay is a much earlier start than most of us were used to, but the time and location were deliberate. Just as the sun was dawning before us, we recognised a new dawn for Te Ao Māori in our kura.
Ōkahu Bay is a nod to the Mahuhu–Ki-Te-Rangi waka and significant to Ngāti Whātua Orakei. The marae looks over the bay, just as they will be looking over and guiding us through our te ao journey.
Another reason we wanted to launch the initiative in a way that is true to Te Ao Māori is to build whānaungatanga - relationships. “Who are we, before the mahi”. The morning didn’t follow any strict agenda, it was more of an opportunity to share kai, and get to know each other. I experienced my pepeha really come to life when I learnt that ISL’s Anna Hartley and Nicole Sherburd are also Ngāi Tahu!
Part of the kaupapa of a Kāhui Ako is to learn and grow from each other. In that spirit, I shared with the rōpu* what I had already learnt from my co-lead Suzanne about whenua. Not only does it mean land, it means placenta, the giver of life and new beginnings, the connection between the old and the new.. So on the Ōkahu Bay whenua, of significance to Ngāti Whatua, the tangata whenua, together, as a Te Ao Māori whānau, we are creating a new whenua, giving life to Te Ao Māori in our kura.
After the formalities of the whakatau* we shared kai and coffee. Jill Farquharson said that whenever Suzanne is involved you know that the food is going to be good! Indeed it was. The manaaki* from Suzanne was exceptional as she prepared fruit kebabs, ham and cheese croissants and hot drinks from a family heirloom.
Just as the sun was rising and ngā whetu* were fading away from the night sky, the same stars that guided the Mahuhu-Ki-Te-Rangi waka as it navigated the pacific, we hope that the morning stars and rising sun will help to navigate our Kahui Ako and school’s journey.
*Rātu te Takau o Haratua Tuesday 10th May
*kura School
*manawhenua people with authority over the land
*tūpuna ancestors
*rangatira chiefs
*rōpu group
*whakatau informal welcome
*manaaki hospitality and care
*whetu stars
