Our Learning
Te Ao Māori
Te Reo Māori is offered as part of the Year 8 and 9 module rotation, where ākonga build confidence in the sounds and pronunciation of Te Reo Māori while developing understanding of Te Reo me ōna tikanga.
Year 10 ākonga can select Te Reo Māori as a half-year or full-year subject, and from Year 11-13 it is available as an NCEA subject at Levels 1-3 with course endorsement.
Ākonga learn to kōrero, whakarongo, pānui, and tuhituhi in Te Reo Māori while exploring tikanga, identity, and cultural expression through authentic contexts.
Te Ao Haka
Te Ao Haka sits within the Arts learning area and offers NCEA Level 1-3 Achievement Standards, with course endorsement available. It is open to all ākonga. No previous kapa haka or te reo Māori experience is required, only enthusiasm and commitment. A laptop is required for this course.
Te Ao Haka introduces ākonga to Māori performing arts through haka, waiata, mōteatea, poi, and waiata-ā-ringa. They will learn about storytelling, cultural identity, and teamwork whilst developing confidence and understanding of tikanga Māori, and exploring leadership within kapa haka. Assessment includes a mix of internal and external standards.
Raranga
Raranga, the traditional Māori art of weaving, is offered as part of our Year 9 module rotation, where ākonga experience a 6–8 week taster of the course. In Year 10, ākonga can choose Raranga as a half-year semester subject, and from Year 11 onwards, it is available as an NCEA subject.
In 2024, we developed and planted a pā harakeke on site with the support of Manaaki Whenua and the Rewi Alley Foundation of New Zealand. It features a range of carefully selected cultivars suited for mahi raranga (weaving) and muka cultivars for mahi whatu (fibre work). The pā harakeke is available for use by both ākonga and community kairaranga (weavers), helping to foster authentic learning and strengthen connections to tikanga and mātauranga Māori.
Through this subject, ākonga gain not only technical skills but also a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of raranga as a valued and continuing practice within te ao Māori.
Kapa Haka
Kapa Haka at Te Kura Tuarua o Tāwera is a lively expression of kaupapa Māori, where ākonga grow in both skill and identity. Through regular practice and performance, they explore waiata, haka, mōteatea, and waiata-ā-ringa, carrying the stories and values of te ao Māori. Grounded in tikanga and collective purpose, the rōpū builds confidence and leadership as ākonga develop ihi, wehi, wana, and mana.
Ngā Puāwai o Tawera
Ngā Puāwai o Tawera began as an initiative to create a shared kapa haka space for tamariki across the Waikirikiri District. Each week, voices from our contributing primary schools join after school to learn, perform, and grow together under the korowai of Te Hū o Kākāpōtahi and Te Taumutu Rūnanga. What started as a small after-school group has grown into a thriving rōpū that connects kura, whānau, and iwi through the practice of haka, waiata, and kōrero tuku iho. The kaupapa was founded on a simple idea – that by coming together regularly, our tamariki would see themselves reflected in their learning, their community, and their culture. The programme is sustained with support from the Ministry of Education and strengthened by the aroha and commitment of whānau, kaiako, and community.
Hui a Whānau / Whānau Rōpu Whakahaere
Whānau Rōpu Whakahaere is a whānau-led group to monitor and provide guidance on all things Māori within the school.
Hui a Whānau are termly opportunities for school whānau to meet to celebrate the progress and successes of our ākonga, to consider further opportunities for learning, to hear from Hē Māngai Māori and to consider any issues relevant to Māori.
He Mangai Māori
A staff member helps to coordinate a rōpu of tauira Māori who meet to discuss any aspect of the school that they feel needs kōrero. This can lead to communication with the principal, to planning activities, or in any direction the rōpu sees fit.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is embedded in our policies and vision and, more importantly, in how we lead our school
