This is the second in a series of stories supporting Mahuru Māori – celebrating te reo Māori for the entire month of September. Read our first story for more ideas and challenges.
Building your knowledge of te reo me ōna tikanga Māori (Māori language and customs)
Every Monday for the month of September, our staff will have an opportunity to participate in unique wānanga developed to help anyone and everyone celebrate and build their knowledge of te reo me ōna tikanga.
Whaea Tanya sharing her expertise in raranga (weaving)
Unitec’s Kaitiaki Taiao, Whaea Tanya White (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Hineamaru, Ngāti Maniapoto) and UPC’s Anaru Parangi (Ngāpuhi) have devoted time to organise and support “Whiria Te Reo” wānanga every Monday for the month of September.
After leading the entire institute in creating our whiri, which was officially unveiled at Tū Arotake and gifted the name “Whakawhanungatanga”, Tanya has dedicated more of her time and skill to continuing to build and enhance knowledge of te ao Māori and our values for anyone open and willing to taking up the opportunity.
Tanya says throughout the process of creating our whiri she saw “the emergence of our woven taonga through collective process, which was a manifestation of Te Noho Kotahitanga values and principles in action. Each plaited whiri represents a valued and unique individual contribution, which is then woven together with the whatu stitch to demonstrate the strength of a unified work.”
The wānanga will allow staff an opportunity to converse and learn more te reo in a supportive and positive environment while creating their own taonga rāranga as a tohu of their commitment to the kaupapa.
- When: Monday 14, 21 and 28 September, 11am – 1pm
- Where: Puukenga, Mt Albert campus
Kia kaha tātou te katoa ki te whai waahi ki tēnei kaupapa hei whakamana i tō tatou reo rangatira.
Kīwaha and tongue twister competitions
Anaru Parangī and our Kaihautū encourage all staff to use kīwaha (idioms)
Anaru Parangī has secured some amazing prizes for anyone brave enough to participate in some wero (challenges) developed alongside our Kaihautu.
Anaru will upload videos throughout the month on Yammer to outline the challenges and is encouraging anyone and everyone at Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka to be brave and bold and give it a go.
Anaru says the wero will include using kīwaha (colloquial sayings or idioms) and kupu (words) to help encourage whānau to be brave enough to try, to ask for help and enter this space with an open heart and mind.
“It’s also about having a bit of fun with our use of te reo – give it a go, record yourself and send it to me via email (if the file isn’t too big) or be the first person to tell me how to post video’s on Yammer and you will go in the draw by solving my little dilemma.”
Check out the first video on Yammer now!
Students will also be involved in the same challenges but will share their videos on our student Facebook page and Instagram. Or be brave enough to post it on student facing social media and #tepunaotekupu to go in the draw.
We encourage all our whānau to embrace and take the opportunity to learn and truly recognise the true value of the te reo me ōna tikanga.
Nga mihi maioha kia koe Tanya. I will be there needing new handles for on my nannies kete she gifted me. Good luck teaching me as my hands were only made for drying dishes and stirring pots at the marae. Arohanoa.