爆料社区

In the Rangit墨kei district, p奴r膩kau are being shared with 膩konga through movement-based learning, strengthening their connection to place and identity. This active storytelling partnership between James Cook School and iwi has also given greater purpose to the use of te reo M膩ori in the classroom.

At Tini Waitara Marae, nestled along the banks of the serene Turakina River, kaiako from James Cook School in Marton chuckle together as they navigate the art of poi toa making. Back in the classroom, 膩konga will use the poi toa in a game designed to embrace m膩tauranga M膩ori and keep their bodies moving.

This initiative is part of a kaupapa supported by the Healthy Active Learning team at Sport Whanganui. Kaiako work with iwi to learn p奴r膩kau that reflect the local M膩ori culture and environment. The goal is to then teach these p奴r膩kau to 膩konga by weaving them into physical activity and games, creating rich, quality learning experiences grounded in te ao M膩ori, across the school community.

Connecting 膩konga to learning and culture through poi and place

Recently, kaiako learned the story of Haunui a Nanaia and the origins of river names across Rangit墨kei. These stories will be shared with 膩konga through movement-based learning, strengthening their connection to place and identity.

Kaiako Kelly Pompey says the approach supports 膩konga to connect with the area and their school, fostering a sense of connection and belonging.

鈥淭hey know these places, but they don鈥檛 always know the background story pertaining to our rohe,鈥� she says.

Tumuaki Matthew Bell says the professional development has added to his kete of knowledge and given greater purpose to the use of te reo M膩ori in the classroom.

The results are clear. Students are more engaged in learning, more active, more connected and normalising te ao M膩ori in the curriculum.

鈥淭hese are not just stories 鈥� there are truths behind them, which has more of an impact on the students when they are learning about it,鈥� he says.

膧konga use poi toa in a game designed to embrace m膩tauranga M膩ori while being active.

Strengthening te ao M膩ori

膧konga Ace said he likes learning M膩ori games with his friends.

鈥淩inga tahi is my favourite k膿mu. I exercise my fingers and my brain. I like to challenge Whaea Delanie, but she鈥檚 gotten better. I need to keep practising,鈥� he says. Classmate Payton says it鈥檚 not just about learning a fun game, but learning about te ao M膩ori.

鈥淚 like how I get to play games that I鈥檝e never played before and learn about p奴r膩kau. It doesn鈥檛 feel like learning, it just feels like I鈥檓 playing! Learning more M膩ori is good whether you鈥檙e M膩ori or not.鈥�

This approach supports evidence in 爆料社区鈥檚 Active Bodies, Active Minds report, which shows that games and activities grounded in te ao M膩ori offer opportunities for cultural connection, belonging and dynamic ways for particularly tamariki M膩ori, to learn.

The initiative has also strengthened the school鈥檚 relationship with local iwi through Te R奴nanga o Ng膩 Wairiki Ng膩ti Apa. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 massively important because a lot of the knowledge that is out there, you can鈥檛 attain it if you don鈥檛 have a relationship with iwi,鈥� says Matthew. 

The R奴nanga chief executive Grant Huwyler says schools are long-term players in the community and bringing p奴r膩kau to life is good for everyone.

鈥淲e are a small iwi in a largely rural district, so we are able to get to know people through some of these initiatives with the schools. We are getting to know teachers and students,鈥� he says. 

鈥淭he hua for us is getting out there and getting known in our community as our R奴nanga grows. Sharing our stories with the community is a way of doing this,鈥� he says. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 that whole process of rauoratanga, bringing our stories back for our people and our community, to create an environment where our identity can thrive and contribute to our community.鈥� 

Whaea Kelly playing ringa tahi.

This鈥痑rticle was originally published in the .鈥�&苍产蝉辫;