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Te Reo and Te ao Māori

Te Reo and Te ao Māori

Māori Educational Success

As required by the Education and Training Act, Otonga School’s board ensures that every student at Otonga School is able to achieve their highest possible standard. Otonga School is also committed to te Tiriti o Waitangi and gives effect to te Tiriti by achieving equitable outcomes for ākonga Māori (Education and Training Act, s.127).

Otonga School is guided in our thinking, planning, and actions for our ākonga Māori by the cross-agency strategy for the education sector, Ka Hikitia Ka Hāpaitia: The Māori Education Strategy. Our Māori Educational Success policy should be read in conjunction with Ka Hikitia. We support its vision to help ākonga Māori enjoy and achieve educational success as Māori, while developing the skills to participate in te ao Māori, Aotearoa, and the wider world. The board and staff consult with our Māori community when developing policies, plans, and targets for improving the progress and achievement of our ākonga Māori.

To achieve excellent and equitable outcomes for our ākonga Māori, Otonga School:

  • builds whanaungatanga with our ākonga Māori and whānau, and our local hapū and iwi to ensure everyone is informed and involved as our education partners
  • recognizes and builds on the diverse abilities, strengths, and aspirations of ākonga Māori and their whānau
  • promotes a strong sense of belonging and engagement by integrating te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te ao Māori into school life (including the curriculum)
  • ensures that the school is a physically and emotionally safe place and works to eliminate racism, discrimination, and stigma – (Inclusive Education)
  • engages with any national, regional, and local implementation plans developed by the Ministry of Education and education agencies
  • supports staff in accessing appropriate professional development
  • implements effective, high-quality teaching and leadership practices that promote success for Māori as Māori.
 

Otonga School supports ākonga Māori achievement by:

  • tracking the attendance and achievement of all ākonga Māori
  • providing appropriate learning support, and other support or extension programs and processes for our ākonga Māori, as they progress through their schooling
  • evaluating and continually improving school programs and teaching practices
  • reporting on ākonga Māori achievement to parents, the school community (as appropriate), the board, and the Ministry of Education.
 


Te Mātaiaho NZ Curriculum Refresh

The new NZ Curriculum Refresh Te Mātaiaho “to observe and examine the strands of learning ” gives expression to the right to education set out in the Education and Training Act 2020 that every ākonga, no matter who they are, where they live, or what school they attend, can attain their highest possible standard in educational achievement. As such it also expresses the obligation on schools and kaiako to provide equitable access to this education. It starts from the premise that learners are taonga. It sets out obligations to nurture and care for every ākonga as an individual, as a member of a whānau, and as a citizen of Aotearoa and the world.

Advancing Te Mātaiaho: Our Commitment to Better Learning

To support the purpose of Te Mātaiaho and continuously improve our practices, we have taken the following steps:

  • Joining the Rotorua Central Kāhui Ako (RCKA) – In 2021, our school made history by becoming part of the RCKA Community of Learning. Our principal now serves as co-lead, guiding governance alongside colleagues from Glenholme School, RIS, Boys’ High, Girls’ High, Malfroy School, Ngakuru School, and SDA School. This partnership enables us to engage in Achievement Challenges and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, fostering meaningful collaboration across schools.

  • Strengthening Leadership Networks – Our leadership team works closely with school leaders across the Kāhui Ako to drive collective success.

  • Building Strong Relationships with Māori Whānau – We actively support and encourage Māori whānau involvement in our school community.

  • Culturally Responsive Teaching – Our staff prioritise relationships, valuing students’ prior knowledge, culture, language, and perspectives in the learning process.

  • Implementing Learning Through Play Pedagogy – We have introduced Teaching and Learning Through Play Pedagogy, which honours Te Ao Māori and acknowledges ākonga as holders of taonga and mātauranga. This approach empowers kaiako to bring the rangatiratanga of Māori learners to the forefront, creating an environment where ākonga feel confident expressing their iwitanga.

  • Equitable Access to Learning – Developmentally Appropriate Pedagogy ensures all learners have fair access to the curriculum, embracing diverse worldviews, experiences, and measures of success.

  • Eliminating Streaming – We have replaced traditional streaming with personalised, flexible groupings that enable every tamariki to progress at their own pace, regardless of their starting point.

  • Transforming Assessment and Reporting – Our balanced approach to formative and summative assessment through real-time reporting, values students’ backgrounds, celebrates their contributions to learning, and aligns with whānau aspirations for wellbeing and progress.

  • Strengthening Māori Leadership – We have appointed a Leader of Māori, supported by a strategic action plan, to guide this essential kaupapa.

  • Embedding Te Reo Māori and Cultural Practices

    • Tamariki actively engage in waiata and kapa haka (Junior and Senior Rōpū), with weekly whole-school waiata sessions.
    • The Te Reo Club Resource is now used schoolwide to ensure teachers are supported with all students making progress in Te Reo Māori.
    • Teachers are encouraged and supported to enrol in Te Ahu o te Reo Māori – Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue.

  • Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi – Our school values—Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Kaitiakitanga, and Manawanui—form a shared language across our kura and are embedded in our Year 6 Graduate Profile.

  • Enhancing Māori Representation and Leadership

    • Māori whānau will serve as Board of Trustees (BOT) members from 2024.
    • A Cultural Leadership Allowance has been introduced.
    • An Assistant Principal – Te Ao Māori will be appointed in 2025.

  • Access to Rich Māori Knowledge – We provide students and staff with He Pātaka Kōrero o Ngāti Whakaue as a key learning resource.

  • Māori Teacher Representation – We are committed to appointing teachers who identify as Māori, strengthening cultural leadership within our school.

  • Professional Development in Poutama Reo – The Improvement Journey –Te Reo Māori in English-medium schools for all Teachers from 2025

Through these initiatives, we continue to evolve and uphold our commitment to equity, cultural responsiveness, and excellence in education.