Kura Reo ki Te Waipounamu 2012
central business district in town on Friday night, which saw teams compete against each other to be the first to complete a series of tasks and challenges, all in te reo. A huge thank you to Tangiwai Rewi, Karyn Paringātai and others who ran this. Koia kai a koutou!
This year’s Kura Reo ki Te Waipounamu was held in Dunedin at Araiteuru Marae from April 10 – 14 and attended by 115 registered students from all over the country, including one student from Australia. Kura Reo ki Te Waipounamu is one of four national Kura Reo funded by Mā Te Reo, supported and facilitated by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to provide intermediate to advanced learners with an immersion environment to expand their competency in te reo.
Photos: Students including Jeanine
Originally with a focus of catering to the learning needs of te reo Māori teachers, these Kura Reo are always held in the school holidays to allow for greater participation. Our compliment of kaiako this year included Materoa Haenga, Paraone Gloyne, Poia Rewi, Pania Papa, Leon Blake and Nichole Gully who facilitated a range of learning sessions from whakataukī, kīwaha, pao, whakamāori and tikanga, to an interactive session where students created and developed fun activities and games, all in te reo. E te rau o huna, e kā tautōhito o te reo, tēnei te reo o ngā uri o Tahu Pōtiki e whakamānawa atu ki a koutou.
Students including Jeanine Tamati-Elliffe, Keela Atkinson and Tirangi Skerrett at Kura Reo.
Classes were held by day at the neighbouring Balmacewen School facilities, while evening sessions were held at the marae. These included a kauhau from Tahu Pōtiki on the migration of Ngāi Tahu to Te Waipounamu, a quiz night with Megan Ellison, waiata, he tautohetohe – a light-hearted, entertaining debate about the complexities verses the benefits of being single.
Taikawa Tamati-Elliffe and others participating in games.
The week ended with a hākari celebration at lunchtime on Friday, followed by a tiki-tour bus trip out to Waitati, where a beach walk was had and tuaki (cockles) were gathered before returning to town to compete in te Tauwhāinga Mīharo – the amazing race around the
Our ringawera team were Iwi Cuisine, Ngāi Tahu sisters Raeana and Pip Tainui with the fabulous Liz who worked tirelessly alongside a committed crew of kaiāwhina; Hana O’Regan, Tangiwai and Hinamoki Rewi, Amiria Stirling and nephew Damien, Rena Tamati, Whetu Moataane and our beloved Tāua from the Araiteuru Marae Council, Ani Denham, providing us with lavish, tasty, healthy and nutritious kai all week. Hāhā mārika te reka o te kai! E kā rika raupā, kai ruka noa atu koutou! A special thanks also to the Araiteuru Marae Council for allowing us the use of the beautiful facilities and to all those who helped to make this kura reo a success. Ka rere kā tai o mihi, mai i te puna aroha e kore e mahiti!
Hau Kāika welcoming in guests to the hākari.
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