Year: 2025

WAITARA EAST TALENT SHOW 2025 – TE MOANA

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 2025

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.

NGĀ KAIHAKA O ĀPŌPŌ – PUANGA FESTIVAL

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.

NGĀ KAIKAWE TIKANGA – PŌWHIRI PROCESS

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:

  • Whakarerea Haki – Putting up the flag
  • Haka Pōwhiri
  • Kaikarakia on the Paepae
  • Whakangāhau Ope
  • Tautoko with Waiata Tautoko

He kākano mātou i ruiruia mai i Rangiātea.

Tātarakihi Kapa Haka 2025

                       

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?

Haerenga ki Koroneihana 2025

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.

Manawatia ā Puanga – Wiki 8 Te Kāhui

Tērā Puanga ka rewa i te pae. Nau mai, haere mai ngā hua o te Tau Hou. Tākiri mai te ata. Ka pua te ata. Kōrihi te manu tino awatea. Tui, tui, tui, tuia. Ko te tangi mai ā te Kō, kō, Kōrimako, i te atatū, tū ka takatū.
Nau mai tau mai te Maru o te Tau. Tikina ake ko ngā raukawakawa o te tau kia tau ki runga ki Te Whata Nā Maru kia whetūrangi atu ki te pō e. Haere, e hoki atu koutou ngā mate e.
Mātai ki te Rangi, tērā ko Puanga, te tohu mō te tau hou Māori. he tohu whakamānawa, he tohu whakaaronui. he tohu whakariterite. he tohu ō te ora tangata.
Wow! Wiki 8 was definitely a game changer as we ventured more as a Kāhui into indepth kaupapa when thinking about Te Tau Hou Māori and Puanga (Te Tahi o te Tau).
We spent most of our week 8 embracing the energy and kaupapa of Puanga as we celebrate Te Tahi o te Tau. We began our week by:
– Rāhina: Whakamanawa Pēpī: Although we were in a time of Te Maru  Te Tau; a time we remember those who have passed away, we also acknowledge the new life this year has brought to us and by this, we celebrate our babies in our whānau who were born within the year of Te Tau Māori 2024. Each kopa made a taonga for each Pēpī and presented to them in a celebratory way. We ended the Whakamanawa with a Kaitahi.
– Rātū: We began our day by whakangahau (performing) for our kaumātua at Norfolk Lodge Rest Home. This kaupapa symbolised celebrating with our tauheke, kuia as a whānau. This is always an uplift for our whānau all around.
When we returned back to school, each kopa had haepapa to do which was washing or peeling potatoes for our Hangi Kaitahi the next day.
We ended the day with a Whakamanawa ā Hiwa-I-te-Rangi where our tamariki wrote their wishes on a paper and placed it in wishing lantern.
– Rāapa: As a kura whānau, we began our day as a whānau kotahi where we celebrate Puanga as one whānau. Each syndicate presented something that commemorated Puanga or Matariki through Dance, Artwork and Waiata. It was such an amazing start.
At lunch time, we all enjoyed a Hangi for kaitahi.
– Rāpare: This day was put aside for our kopa to enjoy their Puanga as a classroom which was perfect for us all.
How did you celebrate Puanga or Matariki in your Kura? How did you celebrate with your whānau?

Te Kāhui o Ngā Mātā Raukura Noho Marae – Wiki 6

This week the Bilingual Unit (Te Kāhui O ngā Mātā Raukura) had a Marae Noho at Owae Whaitara Marae.

Our noho marae kaupapa was about building on our sense of belonging to Te Atiawa. Were most of us connect to and come from. We are very fortunate as Te Kāhui o Ngā Mātā Raukura to be haukainga and hold status as such here at this particular Marae. We are proud and humbled to be from here.

We started with a Powhiri (for experience and upkeep of tikanga). Then we raised the hakī to let the community know that there is a kaupapa at the marae. We then continue our noho by having group rotations which consist of making fry bread, making manu tukutuku, drawing whakairo, listening to kōrero tuku iho, kēmū (games) and creating art frames.

Because the Marae has a kōhanga reo, one of which most of our tamariki come from, we were able to whakangahau (perform) for them and have a brief tuakana, teina time.

Building tikanga awareness was definitely a huge aspect of this noho as we become familiar with out tikanga and kawa at the marae.

Our aspirations for this noho marae was:

Whakawhanaungatanga with Te Taiao
Through nature hīkoi, outdoor challenges, and hands-on learning, ākonga strengthening their connection with the environment and develop a deeper sense of kaitiakitanga and aroha for the whenua.

Cultural Enrichment and Local Histories
 Owae Marae provided a meaningful space for ākonga to explore the stories, mātauranga, and tikanga of Te Atiawa and Manukōrihi, supporting a stronger sense of identity and belonging.

Hinengaro and Wairua Development
 Noho offered powerful opportunities for ākonga to grow in confidence, resilience, and teamwork – nurturing the skills and values they carry as empowered learners.

Tamariki performed for their whānau as a thank you to them for their awhi in this journey and we also provided a space for whānau to come together and discuss kaupapa happening in our kāhui which was successful.

Have you had a noho at your local marae? What did you learn about it?

WIKI 3, WEHENGA 2 2025 – TE KĀHUI O NGĀ MĀTĀ RAUKURA

WOW E TE WHĀNAU!! WHAT CAN WE SAY? It was a boomer of a week and Te Mātā Puawaitanga spent majority of our time with our Kāhui Teina celebrating different kaupapa.

NORFOLK RESTHOME: We started off the week with a lovely visit to Norfolk Resthome in Waitara. We were fortunate to be welcomed by our pahake who were waiting patiently to see their tamariki, mokopuna perform. Yes! we went there to whakangahau to our pahake with aroha and grace. Ko te kotahitanga, i kaha rongo i waenga o ngā reanga katoa, he mauri motuhake. Kaore he kupu e tātou mā. We will hope to return there in week 8.

WEEKBIX TRY CHALLENGE: There was a surprise our tumuaki and sport coordinator had for our tamariki and that was attending the Weetbix Try Challenge that was held at Waitara Central School. Each tamaiti received a pack and a Tshirt. It was daughnting for some of our tamariki but they gave it a go and finished the course which was a huge winning, ending in receiving a taonga (medal) as completion of challenge. We were more fortunate that not only did we join together as a Kāhui, but we also got to enjoy the company and encouragement of our Kura Whānui (whole school). It was such an amazing morning e mihi ana ki koutou ngā kaiwhakahaere o tēnei kaupapa nui whakaharahara.

PINK SHIRT DAY: Every year, school wide, we support Pink Shirt Day because, well; why shouldn’t we. Bullying has always been a part of generational trauma and our tamariki are worth fighting for that. Spreading awareness about how to USE YOUR WITS and TITIA TE RAUKURA KI TE NGĀKAU TANGATA / PATUA TE HOARIRI KI TE RANGIMĀRIE is always going to be a foundation we stick by especially here in Taranaki where the raukura flies proudly and honourably. We spent the day discussing what it may look like if we encounter this situation, and how we could best support our hoa who go through this. We also went as far as talking about tamariki own experience going through this kind of āhuatanga. We are advocates for Showing manaakitanga and aroha to others. Te Mātā Puawaitanga were also the candidates for the class who mostly wore pink (we all did) in our own way shape or form. Our tamariki were so stoked because they didn’t expect anything for it but were grateful. They eventually realized that this was a whakamanawa.

What an amazing week e te whānau xxx Ka rawe Te Mātā Puawaitanga xxx

If you would like to know what Titia te raukura ki te ngākau tangata, Patua te hoariri ki te rangimarie or whakamanawa means please leave a comment and i will definitely share these kōrero with you al.