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the meaning
Ngā hau e whā is translated to mean ‘The Four Winds’. This concept literally means North, South, East, West. At Arrowtown School it also means inclusiveness and the bringing together of all people to our place – our school.
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We include everyone at our school and acknowledge all cultural heritages and whakapapa (family backgrounds) that make up our school. This is a place where you can come and be welcomed and acknowledged.
farewell to chris, opening & matariki
Chris Bryant has been the principal at Arrowtown School for 9 years. He is committed to all things Māori and was involved in the design of the school's new Ngā Hau e Whā area that was part of the schools rebuild. The school had planned to officially open this area last year, however, it was cancelled due to a power cut and COVID-19 on the day!
Every year at Kāmuriwai they celebrate Matariki. Matariki is a time to acknowledge and celebrate people, to reflect, to thank others and set goals for the future. This year Matariki was celebrated by opening the Ngā Hau e Whā area with the whole school, staff, the communities Kaumatua Matua Darren and Matua Ned, plus past key whānau members who were drivers of Te Ao Māori and Kapa Haka at Kāmuriwai. The senior kapa haka roopu performed to conclude the opening of this area. At this special celebration, they acknowledged the mahi and dedication of their outgoing principal; Chris Bryant. The mana he has as their tumuaki for the past 9 years was acknowledged at a special farewell assembly. The students all contributed to this event and Toni Monk and Tim Young spoke on behalf of the BoT and principals.
The Ngā Hau e Whā area has a permanent hāngi pit and the school celebrated with a hāngi. Year 7 & 8 Senior Students helped prepare the food. Year 3 & 4 kapa haka performed at the lifting of the hāngi. Each student in the school got to try a hāngi potato, and the adults had a hāngi meal.
Special thanks to some key community members that helped make the hāngi happen - Tipu Kopa, Shaun Fa'amalepe, and Pete Sinclair, plus a lot of other helpers on the day.
