Te Ao Maori
College resounded to the sound of waiata, the thump of feet in the haka and the clash of purerehua as Year 9 boys became immersed in this year’s Te Ao programme.
Each year, for three days, every junior College boy experiences tikanga Maori, Maori culture. The highlight this year was when Year 10 tuakana (older) took the leadership role and welcomed their Year 9 teina (younger) into the spiritually uplifting and traditional setting at Te Rangimarie Centre on Wednesday 2 December. Te Ao Maori programme tries to mirror the aspects of Maori culture as they occur on a marae or during a powhiri. The aim is for boys to have greater recognition of Aotearoa New Zealand as an officially bicultural nation. Year 9 boys had two full-day classes at school covering te reo (language) and tikanga Maori (protocol and culture). This included whakapapa and mihi (self-introductions and genealogy) waiata and himene (singing and hymns), kapa haka (dance and challenge) and moko toi (art and design). This was followed by the powhiri at the marae.
Mr Steve Everingham says, “The challenge of the whakatauki “Ko Au ko koe ko Koe ko au - I am you, you are me” used by matua David Brennan fits the entire ethos of our Christ’s College House system. The three-day experience of Te Ao Maori was transformational for many boys.’’ Ngai Tahu events manager, and Kotane director, David Brennan, coordinated the programme. Matua Brennan challenged the College to enable the Ngai Tahu boys at College to take advantage of their own heritage. This will give them the confidence to embrace fully any interest in tikanga Maori, he says. “To see the boys embrace the whole package yet again in 2015 has been very satisfying,” says Mr Everingham. “The boys were comfortable in the setting. They were willing to try new things - testimony to how the programme is working towards understanding and tolerance.”
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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