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Kaiako at the rural kura He Puna Ruku M膩tauranga o Whangaruru in Northland has been on a six-year journey to embed t膩karo (play) into its teaching and learning 鈥� for the hauora (wellbeing) of their tamariki.听

Guided by the values and tikanga of the coastal iwi of Ng膩tiwai, the kura, which is three years into its transition to a full immersion reo M膩ori kura (M膩ori language school), aims to immerse their tamariki in the rich learning opportunities that their environment has to offer.听

Play through a te ao M膩ori (M膩ori world view) lens offers a strengths-based approach, grounded in m膩tauranga M膩ori (M膩ori knowledge). Through understanding the benefits and value of t膩karo, the kaiako knew that introducing it to the kura was the right thing to do.听听

鈥淥ur t膩karo journey started years ago with Whaea Bernessa in the junior school. She began adding t膩karo in her classroom and built up a loose parts collection using rauemi (resources) from op shops and the ngahere (bush or forest), and things around the kura,鈥� says Whaea Jessie Patch (Ng膩puhi), Kaiako ki Whenua.听听

When Whaea Jessie joined the kura, with a focus on teaching te reo M膩ori, she wanted to create an environment for tamariki to feel comfortable enough to take risks and move beyond their comfort zones and realised t膩karo was the key to doing this.听听

鈥淲e want tamariki to be curious risk-takers, who are socially and emotionally ready for whatever life throws at them. We knew t膩karo could help us achieve that. T膩karo is now embedded in our strategic plan and we are starting to see the fruits of Whaea Bernessa鈥檚 curiosity, some six years ago,鈥� says Whaea Jessie. 鈥淭e ao o te t膩karo (the world of play) is our favourite ao!鈥�听

Embedding t膩karo throughout the whole day allows tamariki to experience the physical, spiritual, and social benefits of play with te reo M膩ori me 艒na tikanga (M膩ori language and customs) as a core focus.听

The small kura takes pride in making time to connect as a whole kura as often as possible and aims to have school-wide t膩karo at least once a week.听

Support from Sport Northland鈥檚 Healthy Active Learning team and the T奴 Manawa Fund has meant the kura has been able to buy resources to tautoko (support) tamariki to move out of their comfort zone and encourage them to be active in their play. 听

鈥淲e now have a good variety of rauemi and taputapu (equipment) that can be used in many different ways, so it doesn't matter if it's raining, hailing, or a hot sunny day, or whether the marama (moon) is high or low. We have the resources to set up quality play opportunities and learning experiences for our tamariki, across all levels,鈥� says Whaea Jessie.听

鈥淚t's so wonderful to see the big kids still interested in things like drama and roleplay while also showing manaakitanga to our p膿pi (babies) by including them in whatever they come up with.鈥�听

As for how other kura can incorporate t膩karo into their everyday programmes, Whaea Jessie encourages kaiako to spark their curiosity.听听

鈥淭膩karo doesn't have to look a certain way. You have classrooms full of experts to help guide you, so take their lead. Let them play! Collect resources from the ngahere, loose parts, blocks, dress-ups, pieces of timber. Tamariki will create magic out of anything so don't sweat the small stuff. The real fruits come when the tamariki are in complete self-led t膩karo. They think up things we wouldn't even dare to!鈥�听