Manukura Report

Kia ora e te whānau,

This year, we’ve had an awesome time planning and running Te Wiki o Matariki and Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori with our tauira. During Te Wiki o Matariki, the kids got stuck into heaps of fun activities, like Kahoots and quizzes, where they tested their knowledge of the stars. We also taught them how to weave stars with paper, which was a cool way to connect with traditional Māori practices. To add to the fun, we held a Matariki race and Star hunt, keeping the energy high all week. These activities not only celebrated Matariki but also taught both Māori and non-Māori students about the importance of the star cluster and its role in marking the Māori New Year.

Some of our talented Māori students, alongside the manukura, put together incredible information boards. One focused on the legend of Matariki, another covered the science behind the stars, and a third explained the meaning of each star in the Māori tradition. These displays were a great way for everyone to learn more, blending storytelling, science, and cultural knowledge. We also had fantastic support from our sponsor, Ārepa, who gave us brain drinks as prizes for some of the activities, which was awesome!

For Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, since it lined up with the seniors’ mock exams, we made sure to focus our activities on the junior students. They got to take part in fun and interactive activities like Atua Mix and Match, where they paired Māori gods with their roles, and Spelling Pi, which added a twist to learning new words in Te Reo. They also loved exploring traditional Māori tattoo designs through Tā moko stenciling, with some amazing work done by Year 12 Māori student, Hyraani Raupita. These activities helped younger students connect with Māori culture and language in a hands-on and engaging way.

Overall, Te Wiki o Matariki and Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori were big successes this year, giving our tauira a chance to dive into Māori culture in both educational and creative ways. From star weaving to language games, these events really helped build a stronger connection to our traditions. A huge mihi to Ārepa for their generous support and to all our tauira and manukura who made it all happen.