" Whāngaia ki te kōrero kia pehapeha ai te korokoro, tērā i te kererū i runga i te miro"

Happy New Year and a warm welcome to everyone especially those who are first time Mā Te Reo providers.  This is our first ī-pānui for 2009 and is sent to everyone who registers with us.  Its purpose is to keep everyone informed about administrative priorities, setting targets and recognising achievements and highlights within the Mā Te Reo programme.

We are excited about this year knowing that our efforts from 2008 will begin to bear the fruits to carry us into 2010.

He Kete Wānanga Tuaono is an initiative developed to support the Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Language Plan and help iwi, hapū and whānau to learn about their reo.

The initiative involved developing, producing and distributing a reo Māori CD and accompanying booklet on Ngāti Kahungunu tikanga, kawa, waiata, reo and whakapapa through the medium of pūrakau and puoro.

The resources were trialled with the representatives of whānau, hapū and marae throughout the Kahungunu rohe and refined according to their feedback.  The creation of the resource has enabled iwi members who are not able to attend wānanga reo to still access and benefit from the recorded information.  Those who received copies of the resource can listen to the CD and sing along to recordings of waiata from Te Hau Wānanga o Kahungunu with the aid of the book.

“Te Whare Kōrero gives to our whānau, hapū, marae, iwi the mātauranga o te waka Takitimu, the philosophies, the derivation of our knowledge base which has been passed down through Te Reo o Kahungunu”.  NWH Publishers final monitoring report.

Helpful Tips

• Give everyone regular updates on the progress, it helps to keep the goal in sight and keeps everyone motivated.
• Trial your resource with those who are going to use it most, and then use their feedback to make the resource even better.

Kura Reo - Whakapakari Reo are week-long total Māori immersion language wānanga held four times a year throughout Aotearoa.  The kura were initially organised by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori but are now organised and hosted by various Māori community and iwi groups.

Kura reo participants are able to improve their Māori language skills through formal lessons focusing on grammar, kīwhaha, kīrehu and vocabulary, and because the kura are total immersion environments participants can also practice their new language skills in informal situations such as meal times and socialising.

Te Waipounamu
The 2008 Kura Reo - Whakapakari Reo held in Te Waipounamu attracted 190 participants.  This was the eighth kura reo held in the south and it saw an increase in numbers from previous years.  It was also notable that those that have returned year after year have shown a marked improvement in the level of their reo and the amount they are using on a daily basis.  

“Many of the people that have been attending kura reo are parents and teachers.  Through attending these wānanga they then have the opportunity to pass those lessons learnt at kura reo onto their children and students.”   Source: Direct quote from Ake Associates final monitoring report.

One of the factors this group found really helpful was being able to connect with other groups supportive of this kaupapa.

Waimārama
The 2008 annual Kura Reo - Whakapakari Reo held in Waimārama hosted 125 participants. Waimārama has been a favourite venue for kura reo for many years now and with the support of the tutors this kura reo keeps growing year after year.

“Nō konei ētahi o ngā kaiako i tae mai.  Nā tērā, kua pakari ō rātou reo hei whakaako i ngā mokopuna.  Kua pakari ngā reo a ngā tāngata o te hau kāinga i tae ki ngā karaehe, he mea hei hiki i ngā tūru o ngā kōhanga reo, o te paepae, o ngā kaikaranga me ngā tāngata hoki nō ngā reo irirangi”.  Source: Waimārama Māori Committee final monitoring report.

This month Waimārama celebrated 20 years hosting Kura Reo - Whakapakari Reo.  More information about this great achievement will feature in the next issue to coincide with the opening of the 2009 Funding Round.

Helpful Tips

• Laughter and humour make the learning experience even more enjoyable.
• Reo learnt in the formal class times is used afterwards in social times, which reinforces the learning.
• Having good relationships with those who can help with venue and catering helps keep things running smoothly.