When we found out that Ngai Te Rangi iwi were looking for a Māori Medium School to host the Canadian Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, The Honorable Carolyn Bennett, we were delighted to raise our hand and invite Ms Bennett and her delegation to our school. We were able to give an insight into the history of our school, and share our culture.
Her visit started with a short whakatau (welcome) and then a tour of our school to see the learning in action. She was able to talk with children, and see the various kaupapa that were taking place on that day.
In one classroom they were baking, others shared their ICT skills and others were genuinely inquisitive, asking where she had come from and why she was here.
The purpose of the visit was to provide Ms Bennett and her delegation with an example of a successful indigenous school model that could be implemented in her own country of Canada.
By Tui Yeager, Principal, Te Kura o Matapihi
I write for this magazine to inform our community of exciting events they may have missed.
