TE WHĀNAU O KUĪNI MĀKARETA Embracing Cultural Connections and Artistic Expressions

In Term 1, there was a significant increase of new members and former members joining Te Whānau across all year levels, from Year 6 to Year 13. The former members of Te Whānau opened the school year with a pōwhiri to welcome all new staff and students to the college. Throughout the term, we focused on getting to know all members of the group, conversing in basic Te Reo Māori, asking questions to learn each others' names and places of origin. We also revitalised the waiata ‘Tika Tonu’, originally written by ex-students Paris Lokotui and Rosie Campbell, with the aim of eventually teaching the entire school the song to become our school waiata.

In Term 2, we were invited to perform at the Year 9 Mothers' Day breakfast, held in the College Hall. To conclude the event, we performed the new actions to ‘Tika Tonu’ for the first time. Although it required an early start for many of us that day, we were grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our wider community. In Week 6, we celebrated Samoan Language Week by starting our school assembly with a rendition of ‘O mai tatau ou’, written by Head Prefect Tia Pavihi’s father, Dan Pavihi. Throughout the week, we also organised various events, including serving Sapasui (chop suey) and teaching the Junior School a pese (song). However, our biggest event is yet to come in Term 3, where we will open the Senior Concert at the Arts Extravaganza night. As a lead-up to this event, we will also be opening the House Performing Arts event at the end of the Term 2.