L-R: Whirikoka kaimahi Hemi Terekia and Annie Karaka at reception. This carving, made by a team of artists led by the late Te Ohomauri Brown (a senior arts kaiako), depicts the history of Whirikoka. Cafe supervisor Blanche Walker with biscuits baked on site
In the late ’90s, Kökä Katerina Te Kani planted the seed that grew into Whirikoka. Katerina created a marae-based Mäori performing arts facility at Mangatü Marae and she became the inaugural campus director. In 2000, Whirikoka moved from the marae to the old Gisborne Post Office building. And in February 2002, Te Wänanga o Aotearoa purchased the former Sandown Park Hotel in Childers Road. The new Whirikoka campus is a stunning building, constructed from concrete, steel and glass. The interior of the building is bathed in coloured light from beautiful stained glass windows that depict modern koru designs.
featuring man, woman and child. The full name of the Whirikoka campus is Te Pakake a Whirikoka (meaning the playground of Whirikoka). Kaumätua Rutene Irwin says the campus is named after the tipua (demigod) Whirikoka, from the same era as Mäui. Whirikoka was renowned
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“It’s a modern, welcoming learning environment and a facility we’re most proud of,” says Trevor Moeke, the interim rohe manager. “The bricks and mortar are brought to life with the sounds of laughter and körero as tauira and kaimahi share with each other their educational journeys.” The main complex houses workshops for carving and fine arts, as well as eight general purpose classrooms. This modern building is also home to an amazing collection of taonga (art pieces), including a carving in the entrance foyer which depicts the history of Whirikoka and a rotating pou
The bricks and mortar are brought to life with the sounds of laughter and körero as tauira and kaimahi share with each other their educational journeys.
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for his ability to swim long distances and communicate with sea creatures. An impressive stainless steel whai (stingray) outside the resource centre is in recognition of this connection. Over the years, growth at the campus has been steady, particularly in whakairo, te reo Mäori, Mahi Ora and bicultural teaching (primary) programmes. Today, Whirikoka has more than 70 staff and 1400 tauira enrolled in communitybased programmes from the Eastern Bay of Plenty to south of Wairoa. The campus
offers a wide range of courses, including cable logging, computing and business programmes, arts, sports and a raft of mätauranga Mäori programmes. Whirikoka also offers degree programmes in teaching (primary) and social work (biculturalism in practice). Degree tauira count these additions as a blessing – they can now study in their local community without having to leave whänau to study in a main centre. Trevor acknowledges Katerina’s contribution to the people of Gisborne and to Te Wänanga o Aotearoa. He says, “Katerina Te Kani gave us this beautiful place”. While Trevor acknowledges the past, he is also excited about the future. In particular, he’s looking forward to the building of a new bilingual Ngä Whare Whäriki Köhungahunga (early childhood centre). “The centre is a response to the need for quality early childhood care, the provision of education solutions from pëpi to kaumätua and the strengthening of whanaungatanga. This is whänau transformation in action.”
Ó TÁTOU WÁNANGA
KÓANGA Spring 2011 KÓANGA
KA MÍHARO
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