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More than 250 people, including mana whenua, community leaders and students from Ōrewa College, gathered at dawn on January 28 to celebrate the opening of the college’s new te reo Māori programme.
Rumaki Reo is an immersive environment that encourages communication in te reo Māori and is the first initiative of its kind at the college.
The name Taipari is used to refer to high tide, but represents the incoming tides of Ōrewa. The image of the tide moving steadily toward the shore serves as a metaphor for the arrival of Year 7 and Year 8 ākonga into Ōrewa College and into the kaupapa of rumaki reo learning, a college spokesperson says.
The dawn blessing coincided with the incoming tide, reinforcing the symbolism behind the name.
Local iwi kāinga, Ngāti Rango and Ngāti Manuhiri, provided leadership, support and affirmation throughout the blessing. Their presence was central to the foundations of Taipari, reinforcing the importance of working in relationship with mana whenua as the programme takes shape, Ōrewa College’s Principal Wiri Warriner says.
Ngāti Rango and Ngāti Whātua rangatira and Ōrewa College alumnus Te Kurataiaho Kapea joined Ngāti Manuhiri in leading proceedings.
Warriner says that the community response has been significant. All places in the inaugural intake have been filled, with more on a waiting list. Enrolments at both Year 7 and Year 8 exceeded initial expectations.
“Our community has long aspired to have a kaupapa like this in our local kura,” he says. To see it come to life is a testament to the hard work of a great number of Māori educators and community members over the generations who have helped to pave the way.”
Taipari has been established with long term growth in mind. While the programme currently serves Year 7 and Year 8 students, Ōrewa College intends to progressively extend the rumaki reo pathway through the senior school in coming years, creating continuity for ākonga and strengthening te reo Māori provision across the kura.
