Week 10 Term 3: Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori Language Week 2024 (September 23 - September 27)

Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori Language Week 2024

AKE AKE AKE: A forever language

Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori Language Week took place in Week 9 of Term 4 (September 16 to September 20). The theme for this year's celebration is 'Ake Ake Ake - a forever language.' ReoMaori.co.nz unpacks this year's theme in saying "It represents the resilience, adaptability and endurance of our language. It also reflects the commitment New Zealanders have to embracing and learning te reo Māori long into the future. Under enduring pressure te reo Māori has shown it will adapt and survive. It grows with our people, our culture and our environment." 

Totara House rehearsal

This year our school celebrated Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori Language Week by encouraging each our Houses to learn the School Haka and a Maori Waiata and perform at our whole school assembly in Week 9. As the House Dean, my responsibility was to bring my House together and to get them on board to learn the reo and enjoy the reo through the learning of the haka and waiata. I put together a group of students who I knew were really keen to take part in the celebrations - student's from all walks of life and cultures. We had representation from our Maori, Cook Island Maori, Filipino, Tongan and Samoan communities in our Totara House Kapa Haka Group. 

Rehearsal for Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori Language Week

We had a group of around 56 students, led by their House Leaders the group met every lunch time (from Week 7 and Week 8) to learn the haka and waiata. In Week 9 we extended our rehearsals to after school as we wanted to ensure that the student's knew the lyrics and choreography off by heart. Both our Manukura Tane (male leader) and Manukura Wahine (female leader) were appointed after trialing different students to lead the waiata and haka during our rehearsals. Our Manukura Tane and Manukura Wahine were given the job of leading both the haka and waiata - their leadership was important in that they set the tone for everyone else. 

Karakia - Totara House 

This further supports Totara House's approach to leadership - the concept of 'He mahi tahi' - in that we see leadership as a collaboration with our team.  The student's loved the experience of learning the reo, many of whom who have done this before at their previous schools. This was an opportunity for our Maori students to share their reo with their peers, it was an opportunity for us to celebrate Te Reo Maori which supports Maori visibility in our school. Which strengthens Tangata whenua. Ultimately this strengthens us as school. I have reflected on this journey over the last 3 weeks and it has made me question myself 

'Why is it important for students to learn Te Reo Maori?'

'Why is it important for children to learn in their languages?' 

Totara House rehearsal for TWOTMLW '24

Totara House rehearsal for TWOTMLW '24

I believe that children, students, akonga - need to know who they are and have a strong sense of identity. You can have that through without knowing your language. I have had that for most of my student life but now as an adult I am hungry for my language and I understand how important my language is in my identity, in what I do as a teacher. If our students have the language strengthened in their homes and at school, it is a door that opens you to communicate with your families and friends. It opens the door for you to understand your history, your whakapapa, your heritage and your inheritance. I believe that it is important for our children, students and akonga to learn in their language. Many of my student's first language is NOT English. By strengthening their first language, everything else is strengthened. From their literacy in reading, writing to their identity overall. 

Totara House Kapa Haka 2024

Co-founder of the first Samoan Aoga Fa'asamoa Jan Taouma (Early Childhood Center in Aotearoa) who over the last 40 years  has seen thousands of students immersed in their culture and championed the training of bilingual teachers in Aotearoa, states that "It is really important others you just become a brown Pakeha, a brown New Zealander with no real connection so that's how I have always looked at it." I am excited to immerse myself in our language week celebrations as it strengthens my journey in Gagana Samoa. 

Totara House Kapa Haka 2024