Marae Professional Development

Professional Development for our Opuke Kahui Ako. Arowhenua Marae

On November 15th we went on a bus trip to the Arowhenua Marae in Temuka. Our entire Opuke Kahui Ako went as part of professional development and also to learn about their Tikanga and Powhiri protocol.  

On Arrival the women were at the front supporting Karanga (Rana), the men were behind. We all entered the whare and moved to the left. The women sat at the back and the men moved to the front. Chris spoke on our behalf, followed by waiata from us, manuhiri (visitors). The Waiata we sung was ‘Ma te kahukura’. The Tawera (Tangata Whenua) concluded the speaking with an invitation to Hongi. We all got up and took part in the hongi and then it was time to move through to the next room to complete the Powhiri process with kai.
After the Powhiri we came together in the main meeting room and listened to speaker Hana O’Regan

"Hana O’Regan (Kāti Rakiāmoa, Kāti Ruahikihiki, Kāi Tūāhuriri, Kāti Waewae) was previously the Kaiārahi – Director of Māori and Pasifika, and the Director of the Student Services Division at Ara Institute of Canterbury (Ara). In this role she sat within the Ara executive, reported directly to the CEO and oversaw 121 staff members.

Hana has also held memberships to national commissions and boards, including the Government’s Working Party on Charter Schools, NZCER, The Review Panel for the Foreshore and Seabed Legislation, Ngā Kaituhono – The Māori Advisory Group to the NZQA Board, and the recent New Zealand Flag Consideration Panel, to name a few. She has strong capabilities in management, and in strategic planning and implementation.

Hana’s expertise in te reo is recognised regionally, nationally and internationally. She has held memberships on numerous commissions, boards, advisory groups and committees, and strategy reference groups. She is a sought after public speaker and an award-winning lecturer, tutor and author." From theTe Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Website

Hana spoke to us about the unfair prejudices that the Maori have to face on a daily basis and the things that we could do as teachers to support the young Maori children coming into our classroom with these prejudices in their lives. I found Hana's speech quite confronting and also extremely interesting and thought-provoking. 

After Hana's speech, Tawera talked to us about Arowhenua and the background to the Marae. I found it very interesting to learn more about the background of the marae.

We were then treated with delicious kai for lunch!

After lunch we moved apart into 'workshops' I chose to go to the flax weaving workshop but due to a mix up the person taking the workshop couldn't make it, so instead, we had a lesson on how to make Poi. This was really fun and I learnt a lot, I can't wait to try and make these with my class at some stage. The other workshops on offer were Tikanga (waita, te reo, poi/maoriko), Maori games, and E-can.

This was an excellent opportunity for me for learning more about the Maori Tikanga and things that I should be more aware of as a teacher. It has helped me to Understand and recognise of the unique status of Tangata Whenua in Aotearoa New Zealand. It helped me to understand and acknowledge the histories, heritages, languages and cultures of partners to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and was an excellent opportunity for me to practise and develop the use of te reo and tikanga Māori.