Tēnā tātou katoa, me mihi nui ki a koutou i tēnei rā! E whakanui ana mātou i Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, he reo rangatira, he reo tuku iho mo ngā tangata katoa. At Diocesan, we have been celebrating Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori! We value diversity and the uniqueness that the culture brings to our school community. All people are important to us and we strive to create learning opportunities for all of our students, just like this whakatauki ‘He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata’ – What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people.

Language is to be celebrated as it offers a lens to a different worldview – a new perspective that can be embraced by the learner. Diocesan has most recently partnered with Te Wananga o Aotearoa to deliver a Māori language learning programme in 2019 for our staff and parents who may be interested. Ka rawe!

Along with the chapel, Te Wharenui o Matariki is the heart of the school expressing culture, identity and unity for all students and staff at Diocesan. The carved pare was erected this term by the kaiwhakairo (carver), Pakewa Watene. The name of the pare is ‘Te Kotahitanga o te tini’ or Unity through diversity. The carving has been specifically created to express the values and historical narrative of Diocesan. He has blended traditional and contemporary design and materials in this work. The carving is made from totara and rimu timber and it has been merged with aluminium steel. The taonga was blessed by the Holy Sepulcre and Tatai Hono kaumatua, Rev. Kerry Davis and Rev. Tahu Williams during a dawn ceremony on Wednesday 8 August 2018.

As a school community, we are working together to develop a deeper understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and how it influences our relationships and kawa (customs). As we continue to learn and grow together we hope that you will join us too.

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi
With your food basket, and with my food basket the people will thrive

Kia kaha te reo Māori!