Dannevirke kura marks 30 years teaching and learning te reo
Te Kura Kaupapa Ma¯ ori o Tamaki Nua Rua celebrates
Thirty years ago a small group of highly motivated teachers and students assembled in the Carnegie Centre to start a Ma¯ori Language School. According to one local teacher who was there the Department of Education did not expect it to last “more than five minutes”, in her words.
Shortly after, it moved to its present location adjacent to the Makirikiri Marae on Makirikiri Road where amongst all the development a time capsule was buried containing the dreams and aspirations of those involved.
Thirty years later on Wednesday, October 19 the time capsule was lifted and opened, its contents in perfect condition and a real insight into the school as it was in its infancy.
Today it is thriving with 70-plus pupils, taught mostly by returning students they call raukura who have done their teacher training in Te Reo education and are honoured to be able to give back and contribute to its continued development.
Third principal Brian Paewai is proud and excited by the progress of his former school saying “great things are happening here — the school being the ideal size with robust systems in place and good reports from the Ministry of Education”.
He went on to say that his new job promoting teacher training for Te Rununga Nui a Nga Kura Kaupapa
Ma¯ori Aotearoa which allows him to tour the country and visit schools, fills him with delight and confidence in the future saying he “now sees and accepts the possibility of a multicultural partnership envisaged in the Treaty of Waitangi as becoming an eventuality”.
Celebrations took place October 19-21.
Day One — Ma te Whanua o te Kura — this was the local celebration in which current and past students came together to celebrate 30 years. It started with a pohiri and was followed by interactive activities between past and present activities.
These were huge fun for all and culminated at noon with the lifting of the time capsule buried in 2012.
To the delight of all its contents were as fresh as the day they were buried and presented the chance for former students to contemplate their contributions and what has
subsequently come to pass while the present students appreciated that their predecessors were not so different in their hopes and dreams.
A new time capsule was buried with local student and staff contributions, hopefully to be lifted when the school turns 50.
Day Two — Mate te Motu Whanui — nationwide — the day began at 6.30am with Karakia o te Ata. It was a magical time as the threatening clouds on the Ruahines parted to reveal a clear crisp morning and the proceedings were led at first by kura personel being completed by the raukura.
At 8.30am all the visitors from kura kaupapa throughout the North Island numbering over 500 were welcomed at a formal pohiri.
It was a very moving experience as following the warm welcome by kaumatua Manahi Paewai and spectacular waita from the kura, each speaker from the visiting kura spoke of their pleasure and honour to help celebrate the occasion.
Visitors and locals then took part in a variety of fun activities, the youngsters involved in a top town, bouncy castle, face-painting, horse riding mix of activities while the Year 9 and up split into four kura groups to play ki-o-rahi, touch and basketball.
After 3pm all the students and
visitors heard from speakers of each era about the history of the school at Makirikiri Marae and this was followed by a talent quest — all in Te Reo of course!
The day concluded with a neonthemed disco 7.30pm-9.30pm for students Year 8 and down in the marae.
Day Three — Te poro o te Kura. Celebrations concluded with the Kura Ball at which high school age students to adults were invited to the Dannevirke Sports Centre. It was a lovely night as attendees responded to the request for formal dress linked to the theme Colours of the Kura.
A group of locals combined into a seven-piece band and kept up a steady flow of music while patrons enjoyed great kai, friendship and dancing.