Whakatau
The National and Regional offices have been welcoming kaimahi into the office through a whakatau process, which is starting to become a more familiar process across the organisation.
The whakatau is a settling process, providing an opportunity to welcome and acknowledge kaimahi who have started in their new roles, and strengthening the sense of kotahitanga by settling into the new year and new Playcentre structure together as a whānau. The whakatau will enable opportunities to kōrero, waiata and share kai together.
Kotahi te aho ka whati;
ki te kāpuia e kore e whati
One strand of flax is easy to break, but many strands together will stand strong
Essentially the whakataukī is about unity and working together. It’s an important theme in many Māori proverbs; and, of course, critical in achieving our collective goals. The original used by Tāwhiao was a call for unity and strength amongst his people, and other tribes, in the face of the devastation and injustices of land confiscation and the New Zealand wars. In this way, it is a valuable reminder of our shared history as well as a powerful statement of the importance of moving forward together.
Pōkeno Playcentre opening and blessing
After a busy few years Pōkeno Centre members can now start celebrating in their new building which was opened with a blessing process and karakia o te whare tākaro hou on Monday 29th March. The opening was supported by the mana whenua Ngāti Tamaoho, Life members, Local dignitaries, and current Pōkeno Playcentre members. Congratulations!
Karakia poroaki mō ngā whānau ka wehe atu i Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi
Creating a farewell blessing for whānau when they move on from Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi
Mairangi Bay whānau had a vision and a dream, to create a karakia that was meaningful to them, to farewell their tamariki and whānau when they moved onto their next life and education journey. With the support of a local kaumatua Kereama Netana, Keri Milich and Jean Yern, Mairangi Bay and Birkenhead centres came together and agreed on the key elements of what a graduation/farewell ceremony meant to their whānau. Six key themes emerged, guiding the creation of the karakia poroaki which will be used during the graduation or farewell ceremony within their centres.
Developing the karakia was an amazing process that involved tamariki and pakeke spending time to wānanga about the meaning of the Playcentre journey and contribution to the lives of whānau, and the purpose of graduation. Tikanga and Te Ao Māori has become embedded in the process and understanding, and matua Kereama’s wero was to take it, use it, share it and share the korero that sits behind the karakia.
The next goal for Mairangi Bay Playcentre is to develop an entire whakatau process for welcoming new whānau into their centre, which also includes creating a welcoming karakia too. Ka mau te wehi e te whānau o Mairangi Bay!
Watch this space for the karakia which has been gifted to Te Whānau Tupu Ngātahi to use. The karakia and meaning will be shared next month, and some wānanga will be provided via an online zoom – so join us if you are interested in learning more, and using this karakia in your centre. Karawhuia!