We have been learning about kōrero of our own maunga.
What you can see is our fact posters that share kōrero about our maunga.
We created this using Canva.
I am proud of my mahi because I learn’t awesome things about my maunga.
Something I found challenging was finding true and accurate facts about my maunga.
Something I learn’t was how my maunga got its name.
My tips about Canva is to use an existing template for your poster.
Do you know your maunga and how it got its name?
Rāmere 06 o Poutu-te-Rangi 2026 (06.03.2026) i tū te pōwhiri mō Te Kāhui Maunga Kapa Haka ā-Rohe ki runga o Te Whaitaranui a Wharematangi ki te kimi i tōna Matua i a Ngarue (Waitara, Waitara Bears League Fields) mō te wā tuatahi o tēnei whakataetae ā-rohe. He rā hei mau pupuru ki ngā raumahara o ā tātou nei raukura.
On the Friday 6th of March 2026, Whaitara held Te Kāhui Maunga Kapa Haka ā-Rohe for the first time in history. We (Te Mātā Puawaitanga) were very fortunate to have been invited to join such an amazing experience for our hāpori as we stood proud to welcome on Taranaki and Wanganui onto our whenua.
This kapa haka competition is a qualifying year for our adult groups to get to Te Matatini 2027 held in Waikato, Hopuhopu where the qualifying teams will face many other teams across the country including Australia groups.
Our local rōpū, Ngā Purapura o Te Tai’auāuru invited all local kura of Waitara to join in Powhiri proceedings as haukainga where we came together to learn our haka pōwhiri ready for this day. This is a first time experience for all our tamariki of Puawaitanga so it is definitely one to remember. Many of our kaihaka in Ngā Purapura were also students of Waitara East and the surrounding Waitara Schools. Infact, The current Kaitātaki Wahine of the mōtu (country), Aroha B.P was a student of Waitara East and so was the current 3rd place Kaitātaki tāne of our rohe, Matthew T.R which has since been great role models and inspiration for our tamariki mokopuna. Ngā Purapura o te Tai’auāuru are the champions of 2026 regional kapa haka competition who will be representing us all at Te Matatini ki Waikato in 2027.
Many of our whānau had also taken the stage this particular competition and done so well, me mihi ka tika ki koutou katoa ā tātou rangatira.
Although, the day was a scorcher, our tamariki were able to walk away with their heads held high with so much pride. Yes they were tired after the pōwhiri as it took 3 hours, however, they were inspired by their tuakana and still talk about the pōwhiri. Some of our tamariki hope to one day be in Ngā Purapura which is an inspiring goal.
We congratulate our pakeke rōpū Ngā Purapura and our many kapa rōpū who stood xxxx
Mauri tū, mauri ora ki tātou katoa.
Tēnā koutou e ngā mātā waka o te motu. Whakarauika mai ki te whārangi rangitaki o Te Mātā Puawaitanga 2026.
This year we started of with creating our Tiriti o TMP to align with Te Tiriti o Waitanga and how a partnership agreement can be establish between to rōpū, in this case it was between Puawaitanga tauira and their Kaiako. Our tamariki came up with their own tiriti for the kopa that aligned with our school values Manaakitanga, Angitu, Ngakaunui and Aroha (MANA). Lets see how our tauira go!.
This wehenga (term) we will be focussing on Ko Wai Au where our tamariki explore all of their Pepeha and building relationships through it. As an art project, our tamariki have created a collage Poster of their Pepeha which also helped them to learn their Pepeha as well as practicing their artistic creativity.
WEEK 8, TERM 4 – This week Te Mātā Puawaitanga were a part of a School Talent show. Aside from Kapa Haka, this would be the first time our tamariki have ever been a part of a show.
WHAT WAS THE TALENT THEY SHOWCASED? The talent we showcased was 1. The Creative kakahu we made to represent our sea creature. 2. A Script/Theatre Delivery and lastly, our Māori Performing Arts which were done with a range of Taonga Māori (Poi, Hōkai, Tititorea, Tīrākai, Poi Piu, Poi Roa, Patu, Pūmoana, Rākau Roa, Korowai).
WHY DID USE USE SO MANY TAONGA MĀORI? The taonga Māori were mostly to exhibit the different kinds of Māori Performing arts that you may not see in Kaa Haka. We also used them to imitate the movements or surroundings of the sea creatures represented.
The tamariki all had fun and were very excited to do this twice in a week.
Mauri Ora!
TARANAKI TŪ MAI is a Bi-Annual Event weekend where all of the 8 iwi in Taranaki come together to compete against eachother in various activities and sports as well as Kapa Haka. This year was held by Taranaki Iwi which marks the 9th year of Taranaki Tū Mai. This kaupapa has opened up opportunities for our tamariki in the kāhui and school wide to participate in these activities or even better, be a supporting spectator. This helps build our tamariki sense of belonging and connection to their wider whānau. As you can see, our tamariki belong to other iwi all across Taranaki and we support who they are and where they come from. As a Kāhui, this is a very important aspect of our tamariki and who they are.
Next Tū Mai will be held here in Te Atiawa in the year 2027. Nau mai, rāhiri mai e te iti, e te rahi ki runga o Te Atiawa.
Te Kāhui o Ngā Mātā Raukura is a collective of tamariki that branch from our local Kōhanga Reo, Primary, Intermediate and our High School. Our major goal is to continue Ngā Toi – Ngā Mahi ā Rehia with in our Kura first and foremost but also create a kapa haka foundation within our Waitara Community. This year 2025, our kura in Waitara had the opportunity to participate in Puanga Festival as a competitive rōpū. From our teina rōpū Te Mātā Mokopuna who performed as Whakangāhau to our Whakataetae rōpū Te Kāhui o Ngā Mātā Raukura who performed as a competitive rōpū, we pride ourselves on the representation of who we are as uri of Te Atiawa who reside in our tūrangawaewae here in Waitara. Setting the foundation of Kapa Haka from our teina level will strengthen the stand of our Rangatira o te Āpōpō.
Te Kāhui o Ngā Mātā Raukura placed 3rd in the U13 Section of Kapa Haka. Our tuakana (Intermediate) rōpū placed 1st in the U13 Section setting that calabar for our tamariki. We are so proud of our tamariki who stood proud to represent our Kura, Iwi and Hapū.
Kia tū hei raukura mō te Iwi.
As a Kāhui, we pride ourselves on upholding our tikanga in and out of Kura. Te Kāhui o Ngā Mātā Raukura carry the Mana of our local Mārae – Owae Whaitara Marae where our tamariki can confidently ground themselves as uri of the marae, iwi and hapū. We are given many opportunities to bring on schools and associations around the Mounga and the country. Fortunately our term 4 started off with Pōwhiri to our Schools in New Plymouth. This is very important in instilling tikanga and kawa within our tamariki and through experience they learn more easily. We first started with Te Mātā Puawaitanga attending Pōwhiri, however, we as a Kāhui chose to include all Kāhui classes to this process as its a setting foundation for our tamariki.
The many things our Kāhui do as upholders of Tikanga is:
He kākano mātou i ruiruia mai i Rangiātea.
This year Waitara East School entered into Tatarakihi 2025 which was held in Te Hāwera – Ngāti Ruanui. Although it was a Non competitive year, our whakataetae team continue to work hard to produce a great stand. Our teina performed as Whakangāhau and done amazing, stood proud and showed MANA in their stand.
Our Rōpū Whakataetae – Te Kāhui o ngā Mātā Raukura won second place in the competition. As a biligual school, its very important to maintain the values of Te Ao Māori within our learning and school culture and that is what we take up on stage and in our learning.
Some tamariki were very nervous when they got to the backstage, before going on the stage. Some cried, some were happy and some just wanted to see what it was like performing on a stage as it was their first time. Yes we had alot of first timers performing for kapa haka and they became passionate in kapa haka.
Did you perform at Tatarakihi this year?
Te Kāhui o ngā Mātā Raukura were fortunate to be a part of the first Koroneihana (Coronation) of our Arikinui Kuini Ngawai Hono i te Pō this year – 2025 held at Tuurangawaewae Marae. Our tamariki had learn’t about Te Kiingitanga, te kōtahitanga and the Māori Kiingi and Kuini of Te Ao Māori – Aotearoa. This was a haerenga full of opportunities where our tamariki were a part of Kawe Mate process, Whakangāhau to our Arikinui, a time out to have fun with whānau, a part of giving the Matatini Mauri to Waikato and most of all KŌTAHITANGA – Oneness, togetherness.
Tamariki and whānau had the opportunity to experience what it was like to be of Te Atiawa and celebrating kōtahitanga as a Motu whānui. We seen bonds grow within this haerenga and that is the most important attribute of this haerenga. Come and see what we got up too.
3rd September 2025 – 4am in the morning, we gathered at Waitara East School to pack up our vans. We then met Taranaki Whānui at Owae Whaitara Marae for Karakia before we all travelled together to Ngaruawāhia for the Kawe Mate-ā-Motu. Some of our whānau took their loved ones who had passed within the year to be acknowledged by the iwi and most of all Te Arikinui Kuini Ngāwai Hono i te Pō. Our tamariki were a part of ngā tatarakihi as they swung their poi with Taranaki Whānui. This whakaahua was taken following the proceedings of Te Kawe Mate-ā-Motu which was a special experience for us all.
3rd September 2025 – After the Kawe Mate pōwhiri, we head to our accomodation near Tahuna, Ohinewai at a Marae called Matahuru Papa Kainga Marae. We had a pōwhiri onto the Marae by haukainga. I think its best to mention Matua Tāwera Nikau was there to greet us on to his Marae which was awesome. This Marae is beautiful and is overlooked by their maunga Pukewhau.
4th September 2025 – We were very fortunate to slip in a visit to Hamilton Zoo. Of course we needed to show our tamariki that we can always have fun on kaupapa such as this. Our tamariki and whānau had the best fun seeing all the different animals and following the Peacock hoping a feather fell off.
4th September 2025 – After a great day at Hamilton Zoo we returned back to Tuurangawaewae to be a part of Taranaki Whānui whakangāhau to our Arikinui. Our tamariki didn’t have long to practice 5 waiata, however they performed till their heart was content. This was an opportunity for our tamariki and whānau to come together with the rest our whānau to perform for our Arikinui. This is a moment we will never forget.
5th September 2025 – Today we wait patiently for the first address of our Arikinui as she broke her one year of silence to finally address her iwi, te iwi Māori. This was an emotional time for all who watch with tears in their eyes and cheer in their hearts. Just when we thought things were over and it was time to return home, we joined Te Kāhui Maunga – all the groups from Taranaki who stood and worked at Te Matatini 2025, to give over the Te Matatini Mauri to Waikato as they will be holding the next Matatini 2027 in Hopuhopu. This was indeed a beautiful experience for our whānau.
We then return home back to the embrace of our Koro Taranaki and the familiar faces of our whānau who we all missed for 3 days.
Me mihi ka tika ki tō tātou Arikinui Kuini Ngāwai Hono i te Pō e noho ki tōna ahurewa tapu o ngā Mātua tupuna. Ki te haukainga o Matahuru Papakainga i āhuru i ā mātou te wā iti nei e mihi ana. Ka rere tonu ngā mihi ki ngā whānau me ngā tamariki i tae tinana, wairua mai ki te hāpai i te kaupapa nei arā ko Koroneihana 2025. Ko ngā rārangi Kiingi kei runga, ko Kuini Ngāwai kei raro rirerire hau paimārire.