Te Ao Māori Update - December 2025

Kia hora te marino; kia whakapapa pounamu te moana; kia tere te karohirohi i mua i tou huarahi.
May the calm be widespread; may the surface of the ocean glisten like the greenstone; and may the shimmer of summer dance across your path.
This proverb is a blessing for a prosperous future, using the imagery of a calm, bright summer to signify a clear and fortunate path ahead.

Tēnā koutou katoa, nau mai, haere mai, hoki mai rā – welcome to our Te Ao Māori update for Tihema!

Yay, Raumati is here! The days are warmer, the sun is shining, and our tamariki are buzzing with that summertime energy. It’s the season of bare feet, outdoor adventures, water play, and sticky fingers from cool treats.
As we dash out into the sunshine, let’s remember to stay sun safe. Slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat, and sip, sip, sip that wai!

We’ve got some fun Te Ao Māori goodness lined up for you this month, so come on in, have a read, and enjoy the summertime vibes with us.

Noho Marae with Glendene Playcentre

By Coralie Bodley, Kaihononga Māori, Upper North Island – Te Ika a Maui ki Runga

I visited Mataatua Marae with Glendene Playcentre last term. It was their first time at this marae, and a very new experience for a lot of whānau. There were tamariki and pēpi of all ages present and it was a full whare! The noho marae was filled with beautiful moments, whanaungatanga, shared kai, shared learning about the history of the marae and the whakairo and plenty of engaging activities for the tamariki.
During the pōwhiri (welcoming ceremony) for us, the manuhiri (visitors), there was one pēpi who wasn’t settled. The whaikōrero (speeches) went ahead, but pēpi still wasn’t settled. Other whānau tried to help settle the pēpi in true Playcentre style but nothing seemed to work. When it came time for the waiata tautoko (support song for the speech) of the haukāinga (home iwi who were welcoming us), they chose the waiata “Tirotiro”
I thought this was a beautiful moment and very reflective of the whakaaro manaaki and aroha of the haukāinga.
“Tirotiro” is a sort of lullaby for tamariki. I first heard it at another marae visit I did with Playcentre last year to Te Pono o Tāmaki Marae. There, Matua Adrian taught us the waiata. Although not a traditional oriori, it has a beautiful, simple tune to whakatau (settle) tamariki, such as more modern lullabies have.
Tirotiro ki taku tau
Kei hea rā kei hea?
Kei runga kē,
kei raro kē?
Kei roto I taku moemoeā.
Looking, searching to my beloved
Where is that? Where?
Is it above, or is it below?
It is in my dreams.

This is a rendition of the waiata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9Ya4Vx0QkY

This waiata was composed by Te Putuangaanga Mihaka as he sat cradling his mokopuna. According to Rotu Mihaka, Waiata Oriori can be used as a valuable and meaningful learning tools in the Early Childhood Curriculum. “Centre that compose their own waiata oriori can take pride in such taonga”. “Mana Whenua (belonging) The waiata oriori will be the pride and joy of the centre and can be shared with others, knowing there will be a connection”.

Mihaka, R. (2015). Waiata oriori in early childhood centres. In N. Williams, J. Carroll-Lind, & L. Smith (Eds.), Tōku anō ao Māori: My very own world (Occasional Paper Series No. 2, pp. 79-84). Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand.

Horotiu Playcentre Celebrates Te Ao Māori Through Play

By Jean Yern, Kaihononga Māori, Central North Island – Te Puku o Te Ika a Maui

The Kaihononga Māori team has recently been delivering a new program of awhina (support) by engaging face to face with tamariki and their whānau at Centres. This new pedagogy includes a hands-on implementation of te reo me ona tikanga whilst working closely with their Centre facing staff including kaimahi, session facilitators and centre advisors to enable successful play opportunities from a Māori perspective.

What does success look like? Our tamariki are able to move between both worlds both comfortably and confidently.

At Horotiu, Paterson Street, and Deanwell Playcentres, tamariki and their Centre whānau have been exploring poi, developing coordination, rhythm, and confidence as they sway, swung, and sang along. Smiles on their faces as they master new movements and kanikani (dance). Alongside poi, the children also tried tī rākau, learning to keep in time, work together, and keep to the beat.

After waiata time each Centre enjoyed some Takakau Māori bread that Jean made fresh for the Centres that morning. Reka! (Yum!)

Deanwell Playcentre listened to the pūrākau (story) ‘He Piko He Taniwha’ At every bend of the Waikato river there is a great chief and then scaffolded the pūrākau with block play where tamariki were invited to design their own taniwha.

At Playcentre, we enable kotahitanga (unity), kōrero (communication), kanikani (dance) and plenty of katakata (laughter). Lovely moments of connection strengthen our commitment to Playcentre’s philosophy whānau learning together and ensure te ao Māori is woven naturally into our everyday play.

Alongside poi, the children also tried tī rākau, learning to keep in time, work together, and keep to the beat.

After waiata time each Centre enjoyed some Takakua Māori bread Jean made fresh for the Centres that morning. Reka! (Yum!)

Today we visited St Albans Playcentre, a hidden gem in the city!

I tēnei rā i toro atu mātou ki St Albans Playcentre – he taonga huna kei te tāone nui!

Tucked down a little lane, wrapped in greenery and wide-open space, it felt like stepping into our own secret ngahere.

We huddled together before our hīkoi next door, chatting about our kaupapa for the day, te tirotiro i te harakeke, examining the harakeke. Then off we went! Through the long swishy grass, over the little trenches, and beneath the shady rākau, until we arrived at the harakeke.

Although there was a small stand nestled among the trees, we decided to harvest from another pū harakeke that felt just right for our mahi. We paused to kōrero about the tikanga o te hauhake, harvesting method. Showing respect, knowing which blades to leave, and why the rito and awhi rito must always stay.

Tamsin led us with a karakia, a whakataukī, and then Che led the harvesting. We even had a brave tamaiti and their māmā step up and give it a go – he rawe!

Once our harakeke was gathered, Tamsin and Che offered a mihi of thanks to the plant, acknowledging the koha it had given us. Then we wandered back to our centre, arms full and hearts full too.

Back on the lawn we had a gorgeous little setup waiting, perfect for settling in. There we learned to make pua harakeke – roses woven by tiny hands eager to try.

He rā ataahua, he rā ako, he rā ngahau!