Students bring Manutūkē te reo story to the stage

Te Whānau Reo Māori o Manutūkē students perform in a full dress rehearsal for their production Ki Tua o Te Ārai — the story of the history of the school. This scene is the portrayal of a time before the school opened in 1885 with dancers moving to the powerful music of Maisey Rika. From left are Aio Hollis, Ahenata Cotter-Luke, Te Aorangi Waihape-Matthews. Back: Roger Wihonga ( centre) and Roamin Barbarich. Picture by Liam Clayton

Music, dance and storytelling brought history to life in Ki Tua o Te Ārai — a production performed by students of Te Whānau Reo Māori o Manutūkē at   War Memorial Theatre in Gisborne this week.

Their experience in kapa haka gave the performers from years 1 to 12 a confidence on stage as they set about telling the story of the history of the school which opened in 1885 originally as Te Ārai Native School.

It told of the time when Māori language was prohibited at school through to today where 120 students are part of a total immersion unit called Te Whānau Reo Māori.

The students this term have been learning about the history of the school which they turned into a production featuring songs, dance and narrative.

Manutūkē is a dual medium English and te reo Māori school.

In 1986 a Level 1 immersion Māori unit — Te Whānau o Reo Māori — was opened.

It began a critical and unique change to the school — a dual medium option that has become the desired choice for the majority of its students.

The show celebrates their 36-year journey as a dual medium school, with each class group contributing to the programme.

The junior school performed to the Kōhanga Reo National Anthem — Kua Tipu Rā — to symbolise the beginning of the movement in the 1980s.

The kura will be taking part in the national primary schools kapa haka competition Te Mana Kuratahi in Nelson later this year.

Manutūkē School’s philosophy is to build resilient, adaptable, and innovative children who know who they are, can walk in all worlds and are confident in themselves.

The production was a reflection of this, giving the students a chance to shine on stage while telling their story.

Behind it all is a desire to recognise the work done by elders who enabled the reality for generations to flourish in their Māoritanga in this world.