Professional Development - Te Ao Māori Wānanga Taiao ki Papakura High School,

 Today Ms Daniel attended Te Ao Māori Wānanga Taiao ki Papakura High School,

It was an inspiring event connecting Te Ao Maori and sustainability. 

Takeaways:

- E Tu Rakau Charitable Trust 

- Rongoa - kombutcha, foot scrub, dry the peppermint and kawakawa 

- Pou for PE

- requested House names from local iwi

- Climate Resilience Funding

- picture books from Auckland Emergency Management

- Maori musical instruments

- Te Ao Marama app

- Sandy Shore Hangi for events

E aku nui e aku rahi, nei rā te mihi matakuikui ki a koutou katoa i tae a tinana mai ki tā mātou wānanga ki te Kura Tuarua o Papakura.

 

Thank you all so much for attending our Te Ao Māori Wānanga Taiao for 2025.

We hope you enjoyed the day as much as we enjoyed hosting you.

 

A few special mentions, firstly to Ngāti Tamaoho te mana whenua, who opened our kaupapa with a karakia, pōwhiri and kōrero. Also, for your support to organise our wānanga and in particular Whaea Monique for your dedication to see our wānanga blossum. No mātou te whiwhi.

 

To our South African brother Matua Chris Matthews (Tumuaki Tuarua), Matua Simon Craggs (Tumuaki), Whaea Mardi, Whaea Rangi and all the whānau of Papakura High School, thank you for sharing your lovely kura with us and showing manaakitanga and whanaungatanga. Nei rā te mihi.

 

Ki ngā ringawera Whaea Sandie Shaw and your crew, thank you for all our kai and the hangi almost put me to sleep. Aue te reka.

 

To our tohunga, our wonderful facilitators and guest speakers, we are extremely priviledged to have you share your many taonga and passions with us. Many have already expressed how wonderful your workshops were and we are truly grateful.

 

If you would like to contact any of our facilitators or guest speakers for future opportunities here are their details below:

 

Ayla Hoeta (Maramataka) – ayla.hoeta@auckland.ac.nz

Some cool rauemi:

Maramataka Dial for Tamaki Makaurau 

Tohu framework 

Planting seeds podcast: Maramataka Ayla Hoeta

Maramataka expert Rereata Makiha on Waka Huia 

Maramataka monthly korero - the Spinoff

Mikaere Berryman-Kamp (Taonga puoro) – mikaere.bk@gmail.com

Mia King (Rongoā Māori) – mia@eturakau.org

LeRoy Paul (Taonga Tākoro) – leroy.paul@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Ngā kēmu: Tī kōuka, Hakariki (Haka o ngā Ariki), Poi Toa

Renee King (The Wonder Project for Year 5-13 ākonga) – https://wonderproject.nz/

Mana Ora Youth Resilience, Student Led Project Funding – sustainableschools@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz (powerpoint slide attached)

Hazel Meadows (Kia Rite Kia Mau) – Hazel.Meadows@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

 

We hope you enjoyed the wānanga e te whānau. It was lovely to have some of our tamariki enjoy the activities with the whānau too 😊

 

It would be greatly appreciated if you could take 5 minutes to fill in a short survey. This will help us improve future wānanga opportunities.

 

Enjoy the rest of your well deserved holiday and all the very best for Term 4.

 

Ngā manaakitanga

Anaru Hetaraka and The Sustainable Schools Team

 

 

Anaru Hetaraka | Senior Kaupapa Māori Sustainable Schools Advisor 

Environmental Services | Ngā Ratonga Taiao

Ngātiwai/Ngāi Te Rangi/Ngāti Whātua/Ngāti Hine/Ngāti Kahu/Ngāti Maniapoto

Mobile 027 308 3650

Auckland Council | Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau

Level 19, Auckland House, 135 Albert Street, Auckland

Year 0/1 Eco Warriors

 

Look at all the plastic lunchbox litter that has been found around the school 🫤

Today in Education for Sustainability Year 0/1 thought about how to keep rubbish out of the ocean. 

When we bring litter in our lunchboxes, sometimes it can fly away in the wind and can end up in the storm drains, which lead to the ocean. 

When litter reaches the ocean, animals like turtles can accidently eat it! 

We wanted to send a message to our school to remember to bring litter-free lunchboxes. We made fantastic turtle posters to help others remember what to do. Check them out by the library. 

Please pack a litter-free lunch! 

✨💧💙🐢💙💧✨

Year Five Rangatira

 In the last two sessions Year 5 have been showing their leadership skills. 

We have been creating picture books to share with the Year One's to the knowledge we've gained about how to get to school safely. 

As well, today Year Five created presentations to promote Wig Wednesday and went around the classes. 

Next term we're looking forward to sharing our picture books and taking part in the Food for Thought program. 

Year One - Litter Less

 

Today Year One investigated the issue of plastic pollution.  First we watched a video about how plastic rubbish moves down the outside drains to the sea. 

Bianca "People drop the rubbish and it goes down the drain. It goes to the beach.  There's a pipe and it goes all the way through the pipe."

Erin "We can help pick up rubbish"

Eden "It's not good because the animals can eat it and they can die".

We collected litter from around the school and analysed what it was made from.  We wondered where all the  plastic packets came from.

Sam thought "Lunchboxes"

What can we do about it?  

"Take the food out of the packets at home" said Faye

"We should look around and pick up any rubbish"

"Bring a litterless lunch" Eden G

What a great idea.

We wondered how we spread the word about the problem and its solution.

Posters!

We got creative. First, we drew a turtle straight in permanent marker! Very brave. Then we created our turtle's environment. We ripped paper for the seaweed and we used PVA glue as bubbles. We can't wait to see what they look like finished 🐢🌊

YEAR 2 - NZ NATIVE BIRDS - WHIO

Can you see the whio's special features?

In the run up to the globally renowned Bird Of The Year Competition, Year 2 are learning about one of our fascinating NZ native birds... 

Today we focused on The WHIO!

Whio are also known as our Little Blue Duck. Have you seen them on the $10 note?

They are only found in fast flowing river rapids with crystal clear waters, trees, plants and loads of stones.

Unfortunately whio are hunted by stoats and are now endangered. 

Firstly we researched and sketched and then we wrote the adaptations whio had for their unique environment. We shared our sketch and labels with our kaiako. Afterwards we played a board game to see what threatens the whio.

Last of all we read the Little Blue Duck book.

Next time we'll learn about the Pukeko vs Takahe. Until then can you go on a walk with your family to spot pukeko down by the Wakaaranga Creek?

Year 3 Research Extraordinary Earthworms

 

Today we buddy read and researched all about earthworms.

What did we learn?

Hugo "The North Auckland worm can grow up to 1.3metres long"

Rosemary "The grey worm is the most common"

Isabelle "Earth worms can breathe through their skin"

"Tiger worms prefer to live in compost heaps and worm farms" Leleya

Austin "Casts are worm poo.  Some people collect them to upgrade the soil"

We went to the worm compost to get the soil ready for planting kumera next week. 

Step 1: Get leaf compost

Step 2: Take food scrap compost

Step 3: Get WORM WEE!! 

Once we were ready we took our compost mix to the garden beds and scattered MILLIONS of microbes into the garden beds. 

We noticed: 

The worms wriggled straight into the earth to get away from the sun. 

There was a lot of plastic that couldn't decompose. 

There were so many worms! 

See you next term Year 3, when we can see the kai that is growing in the garden beds we have just fed. 

Room 2 - The Wednesday Challenge

 

Today Room 2 couldn't compost because of the hail, so we learnt about the Wednesday Challenge instead.

Firstly, two Year five students came and did a presentation about the Wednesday Challenge. Esther reminded us that on Wednesdays at Wakaaranga we try to walk, bike, scooter or park and walk further to school. It's good for our bodies and good for the environment 

Each class log their results each Wednesday.  We compete against other classes and other schools for prizes. Room 2 is 22nd out of 24.  Can we help to improve their ranking?

Tomorrow there is a spot prize for someone in Room 2, who walks, bikes, scooters or parks and strolls to school.  Who will be the winner?

After our presentation we created 'Walking School Bus' posters. Well done Room 2.  Hopefully we can compost the Mara Kai next time.