Ngā tau o mua – Past years
Learning from what has gone before
As we know Playcentre has a rich history – and we also know how Centres enjoy finding out what other Playcentre whānau are doing – here you can read how some of our Centres over the years have celebrated Te Wiki.
In 2019 more than 1000 school students joined a hikoi, organised by the Auckland City Council, to celebrate Māori Language Week.
Parents and pre-schoolers from Playcentre – Te Whanau Tupu Ngātahi – were marching too, with prams and scooters. Mum-of-four Ellen Bowen had her 4-year-old twins in town.
From Germany herself, Ellen said she loved Playcentre’s “strong commitment” to New Zealand’s biculturalism.
She enjoyed seeing her already bilingual children catching on to a third language.
“I think it’s just great! Learning languages is good for the brain, it broadens the mind, and it’s inclusive – so helps our children be more inclusive in general,” she said.
Another Playcentre mum, Bronwyn Hughes, was accompanying her 4-year-old son Cohen in the hikoi up One Tree Hill. A non-Māori family, they hadn’t spoken any te reo until joining Playcentre.
“We’ve embraced it now and I’m really grateful,” said Bronwyn.
“We use words and phrases like ‘I need to go to the wharepaku’ and ‘horoi o ringa ringa’ at home all the time.”
You can read more about the hikoi here.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/maori-language-week/115746504/school-children-are-hungry-for-te-reo-mori-language-week-shows
https://www.localmatters.co.nz/news/35027-hundreds-welcomed-onto-community-marae.html
Otūmoetai Playcentre
Mā is white, whero is red, kākāriki green, pango is black, mangu is too,
A E I O U
These play resources were made by one of our members to invite greater use of Te Reo on session.
The resources were inspired by kōwhaiwhai, the traditional Māori patterns seen in many wharenui to depict tribal genealogy. Were looking forward to seeing what patterns the children make, and the kōrero they stimulate.
Huimai Playcentre
Encouraging, revitalising, promoting and contributing to a positive Māori Language experience in our country and communities. Kia Kaha te Reo Māori!
Whitford Playcentre
Celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori with kai! We shared a traditional boil-up and made fresh parāroa – fried bread. Everyone had a happy puku!
Otaua/Aka Aka Playcentre
Tamariki and parents celebrated Māori Language Week by learning some new Te Reo words we wrote up on our blackboard and had some fun with weaving harakeke fish, head bands, and patterns. We also had a pukapuka read by one of our mums which the tamariki loved.
Hillsborough Playcentre
We did weaving together – creativity, learning and connections
Remember the Playcentre Journal also contains articles and resource pages that may be helpful for Te Wiki. These are some of the journals that have been digitised, but you could always looks through past editions that you probably have at your Centre.