Legacy of lessons learned

INSPIRATIONAL: Makoura College students were left inspired after watching and meeting performance students from Whitireia Polytechnic. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Maori Language Week and a range of Maoritanga classes have left Makoura College staff and students with a legacy of lessons to last throughout the year.

Student Shea Hullah said Te Wiki o te reo Maori, which ran in late July, involved students and staff at the Masterton college taking part in a range of activities throughout the week.

"Whaea Maria [Bourne] taught staff a new phrase or saying in te reo Maori which they could use throughout the day with their classes. They were made up of cheeky colloquialisms, praise remarks, encouragements or instructional language," Mr Hullah said.

"The beauty of this is that it will be continuing with the support of student teacher Melody Haira at each Wednesday staff wananga [professional development]."

Mr Hullah said a sausage sizzle was held on the final day of the language week "where all staff and students were required to speak in te reo Maori, greeting BBQ servers and asking 'he totiti maku' or 'ka taea e au he totiti' if they wished to have a sausage".

Senior students enjoyed interacting with their peers and staff members, Mr Hullah said, responding with more conversational language "asking if they would like sauce or onions etcetera".

"A few cheeky remarks didn't go unnoticed, especially when confident and hungry staff and students found themselves in line again for another. It was a fun event with close to 100 per cent involvement including our five new exchange students," he said.

Songs in te reo Maori were playing in the background, he said, "contributing to a very positive and vibrant vibe on a gorgeous Wairarapa day" and students participated in a range of activities throughout the week.

Also, senior students have been likewise inspired by a passionate kapa haka and Polynesian performance by Whitireia Polytechnic students from Wellington at the end of Term 2, Ms Hullah said.

The performance group included Paris Evans, a third-year Whitireia student and former student of Mrs Bourne's from Awatapu College, who had toured Italy with the Whitireia Performing Arts group.

Makoura College Toi Maori students also covered a wide range of learning from Wairarapa history, to moteatea or grieving chants and laments, to creative writing and the influences Maori performing arts have encountered.

"It was encouraging [to] see our students exposed to such talent and to see the interest in possibly pursuing this educational pathway for some of them as well."