Pure magic – and that’s exactly what our Kāhui Council delivered during our celebration of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori!
Led by the incredible Mia Montgomerie and her brilliant deputies Emma Young and Yasmin Dunn, our ākonga (student) leaders pulled out all the stops to make our Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori absolutely unforgettable.
Rāhina (Monday): Sausages with a Twist
We kicked off the week with a sizzling start – literally! Ākonga queued up for free sausages, but there was a catch: you had to place your order in te reo Māori. Thanks to helpful signs around the area showing phrases like “He tōtiti māku” (I would like a sausage), “He aniana māku” (I would like onions), and sauce options such as “He kīnaki tomato māku” (I would like tomato sauce), even the most hesitant speakers were confidently placing their orders and finishing with “Ngā mihi” (thank you) in no time!
Rātū (Tuesday): Drive-Through Kanikani
The energy ramped up as Māori tunes filled the drive-through, with our beloved mascot Margot busting some serious moves. Ākonga couldn’t resist grabbing photos with the special Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori frame – what a brilliant way to start the school day!
Rāapa (Wednesday): Fried Bread and Fun
Another day, another delicious challenge! Free fried bread awaited those brave enough to order in Māori, with helpful signs teaching phrases like “He parāoa parai māku” (I would like a fried bread) and tempting sauce options including “He kīnaki tiakarete māku” (I would like chocolate sauce), “He kīnaki karamea māku” (I would like caramel sauce), and “He kīnaki rāhipere māku” (I would like raspberry sauce). Meanwhile, the Centennial Level 2 whānau space came alive with traditional Māori kēmu (games) and music. Our fantastic hype crew, Candace Iosefa and Elenoa Ngata, kept the energy absolutely electric!
Rāpare (Thursday): Movies and Māori Crafts
Ākonga gathered to watch Moana whilst learning the beautiful art of weaving pūtiputi (flowers) from harakeke, expertly guided by the wonderful Yasmin Dunn. The perfect blend of relaxation and cultural learning!
Rāmere (Friday): The Grand Finale
We ended with an absolute showstopper – Waiata Mai, our open mic spectacular in the chapel courtyard, MC’d by the amazing Awatea Heke and Mia Montgomerie. From Head Prefect Lotosina Tavui’s breathtaking rendition of “Te Aroha” to St Cecilia choir’s stunning performance of “He Honore,” and everything from Ariana Grande covers to traditional Māori waiata, our ākonga’s talent was simply phenomenal.
Our celebration of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori wasn’t just a celebration – it was proof that learning te reo can be fun, delicious, and incredibly inspiring!
