Tamaiti are the shoots of the seed

The tamaiti (children) of Whakaahurangi Te Kohanga Reo are the shoots of the seed, which is the name of their whare (house), Te Puawai o Te Kakano.
The kohanga has taught children Te Reo Maori in Stratford since 1982.
In the kohanga, they speak only Te Reo Maori to the tamaiti, and when parents who have little grasp of the language, speak in English, they go to another room.
Kaiako, Ngahuia Washer, said they nurtured their kohanga whanau (family) to speak Maori, but as the children were there to learn the reo, they only allowed Maori to be spoken where the children would hear.
"Parents do start to use different kupu (word), and build their vocabulary."
Ngahuia started at the kohanga three years ago and knew few words.
The quietly spoken and welcoming woman is now fluent in Te Reo Maori.
Every Tuesday, there was Te Reo Maori classes, te Tohi Mohiotanga, held at the kohanga, through WITT, with Herewini Nopera from New Plymouth.
"We have people from Tahiti and in other classes at Hawera and New Plymouth people from Chile, France and India are learning te reo," Ngahuia said.
"Some of these people already speak about three or four languages."
What happens to the reo when the children leave kohnaga reo and go to mainstream schools?
"We have started planning for a kura kaupapa to open in 10 years. Then we will continue on with whare kura so that our tamaiti will learn Te Reo Maori through to the end of their secondary schooling."
+On Sunday, 10am, Whakaahurangi Marae hold their AGM. For further information contact Anna Marriner, secretary/treasurer mahi katoa, on 765 6549.