Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori Language Week is a vital annual event dedicated to celebrating and revitalizing the Māori language. It serves as a crucial platform to encourage the wider use of Te Reo Māori in everyday life, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Māori culture and identity within Aotearoa. At Tamaki College, Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori Language Week is vibrantly celebrated with an inter-house haka competition. This event brings together students from different houses to perform traditional Māori haka, showcasing their passion, unity, and respect for Māori culture and language. It's a powerful display of school spirit and a meaningful way to honor Te Reo Māori. Each House (Kowhai, Puriri, Rata and Totara House) were given the task of performing an item and the compulsory item that they needed to include in their set was the whakawhiti. Whakawhiti translates to 'crossover' or to 'transfer'. Each House had to perform a cross over or a transition in their set.
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| Totara House learning haka with Matua |
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| Totara House learning waiata with Matua |
Totara House dedicated three weeks to learning waiata and haka, guided by Matua Harley Wade, who taught them all original compositions. This diverse group comprised students from Year 9 to Year 13 within Totara House, representing a rich tapestry of different backgrounds. The students met every lunch time to learn the waiata and haka that Matua Harley wrote specifically for Totara House. It is an honor to have had Matua Harley guide, direct, lead and teach Totara House during the preparation for the House competition. Learning and embracing Te Reo Maori was the focus for Totara House - many of the students were new to this and Matua Harley wanted to ensure that the students felt safe, comfortable and confident in this new space.
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| Totara House Kapa Haka Group 2025 |
The students performed well at the House event (which took place at the end of Term 3). They were confident, comfortable and engaged with the set that Matua gifted them. Totara House achieved 1st Place at the House event and this is something that they are really proud of. Especially in learning and celebrating Te Reo as first timers. As their Dean, I am proud of their commitment and effort that they poured into this campaign. I am equally proud and grateful for the mentorship of Matua who took care of us during the 3 week preparation.
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| Totara House Leaders with Matua after Prizegiving |
Learning languages and embracing diverse cultures significantly enhances a student's success by fostering a broader perspective and critical thinking skills. It cultivates empathy and understanding, enabling students to navigate an increasingly interconnected world with greater cultural intelligence. Embracing a student's culture, identity and Te Reo Maori in their learning environment is crucial for fostering a sense of belonging, self-worth, and academic engagement. When students see their cultural backgrounds and personal identities reflected and valued in the curriculum and classroom, it validates their experiences and encourages deeper participation. Ultimately, recognizing and celebrating individual and cultural differences empowers students to thrive both academically and personally, preparing them to be confident and contributing members of a diverse society.
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