Celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is a very special time to come together, celebrate te reo, and strengthen our commitment to keeping the language alive. This year, our centres across the motu marked the week in unique and meaningful ways, each reflecting the spirit of kotahitanga, whanaungatanga, and aroha.
Hornby Pasifika set the tone for the week with a powerful celebration. Whaea Kate opened with a warm welcome, before three of our tamariki proudly shared a mihi rākau. All tamariki then joined together in waiata for our manuhiri, followed by the McLeod whānau, who gifted us their pepeha and a waiata. Hornby High School treated us to an inspiring performance, and we were privileged to hear from Willy Tahuri, Hakatere Kaitakawaenga for the Ministry of Education, alongside our very own Kaihautū, Matua Henere. The celebration closed with a shared kai – an incredible spread lovingly prepared by our Hornby Pasifika team. To finish the week, Hornby Pasifika also hosted a whānau movie evening, bringing everyone together to enjoy Moana 2.
At Barnardos Early Learning Hastings, Te Wiki o te Reo Māori highlighted the importance of the routines we treasure every day. Each morning begins with calming deep breaths, followed by a karakia, pepeha, and waiata. Tamariki build confidence step by step – from waiting their turn to copying, to sharing their pepeha proudly and fluently. This daily practice not only grounds the day but is also a powerful way for tamariki to grow their reo and connection to whakapapa.
In Porirua, the team set themselves a special challenge for the week: to increase their use of te reo Māori. In the spirit of kotahitanga, we welcomed our Kaihautū Atawhai Tibble and Matua Anaru Baynes, who shared their voices and energy in waiata with our tamariki. In return, tamariki and kaiako showed their gratitude by gifting Atawhai and Anaru a Pasifika lolly lei – a symbol of appreciation usually given on special occasions.
Māngere Early Learning Centre began their celebrations early with a hangi lunch. Tamariki enjoyed kai that included kūmara, potato, pumpkin, carrot, and chicken. An Aunty from the babies unit contributed stuffing and takakau – a Māori flatbread. Whānau supported the celebration by donating vegetables, making the hāngī a true community effort.
At Pakuranga, celebrations of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori connected tamariki to kaitiakitanga (guardianship of the environment). Tamariki worked with kaiako to weed and prepare garden beds for planting, then helped prepare their morning kai by washing, cutting, and cooking potatoes into chips. These activities fostered independence, wellbeing, and teamwork, with te reo Māori woven through waiata, shape and colour activities, and kai preparation.
Kaiako also introduced a new waiata about a pūrerehua (butterfly). Tamariki danced gracefully like butterflies, pretending to sip nectar from putiputi, while learning about the butterfly life cycle. They extended this learning through colourful butterfly printing, excitedly exploring patterns in their artwork. This experience combined art, music, storytelling, movement, and te reo Māori, weaving literacy and language together in a rich and joyful way.
From heartfelt pepeha to hangi and waiata, our Barnardos Early Learning Centres across the motu celebrated Te Wiki o te Reo Māori in their own special way. What connected all of these celebrations was a shared commitment to keeping te reo alive, honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and giving tamariki opportunities to grow their confidence in te reo me ōna tikanga.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini – success is not the work of one, but the work of many. Together, we celebrate, we learn, and we strengthen te reo for future generations.
