Boys learn their baking skills from the Nans
a full-time practice nurse for the health and wellbeing of our tamariki so they can be strong and healthy,” he explains. ‘We also have a Te Ao Māori healer at the school,” he says, ‘who uses a combination of Māori pūrākau therapy and connection for those tamariki who have experienced grief or trauma in their lives or are finding managing their behaviour difficult. This is one of the Manaaki tamariki programmes we offer,” he explains. ‘Nannies or kuia work with our children too. The mahi poi group learn to make poi, learn the tīkanga behind the poi dance and learn to give to others. Similarly, there is the mahi tukutuku – a nanny teaches the children cross stitch, which is the foundation skill for making tukutuku panels. There is also kai time. This teaches the children how to cook and bake in the kitchen and then share their cooking with others,’ he said. These activities are expressions of the values of manaakitanga and rangatirotanga. My morning ends with the staff gathering in the hall, as Ngahina introduces Nan and her group of bakers, thanks t hem for providing our
morning tea and blesses the food for us all to enjoy. I won’t head back to the front gate after morning tea. I’m not ready to leave my new home, my place. I shall return upstairs to learn more about the conch shell, gifted to the school and used in pōwhiri ceremonies, but also central to ceremonies in Indian and Samoan cultures. Just so much to learn, to share, to protect and to care about. That’s life at Frimley Primary.
Deputy Principal Ngahina Transom blesses the morning tea prepared by Nan and the children
N Z Principal | M a r c h 2 0 2 2
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