As part of our partnership with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, we have committed to the use of an online learning platform - Te Puna Reo Māori, which supports both kaiako and tamariki in their learning of reo. 

Over the last few weeks, we have been learning about the hōngi - the tikanga, the origins, and how to hōngi. The very first hongi was a key part of the creation of the first human being in te ao Māori oral narratives (pūrākau). After the body of Hineahuone was formed from clay at Kurawaka, Tāne leaned in for the very first hongi and breathed life into Hineahuone. She then took her first breath and sneezed! The phrase TIHEI MAURI ORA describes this moment. It can be translated as the “sneeze of life.” This phrase, and the shortened version of MAURI ORA is heard and used in a range of scenarios in te ao Māori including during:

• welcoming
• speeches
• greetings
• acknowledgments
• mihi
• karakia
• Whakawhanaungatanga

We have also learnt about singular pronouns like ahau (I, me), koe (you, 1 person), and ia (he, she, it, they, 1 person). Play this song with your child and sing along: Ko Au, Ko Au 

Here are some photos of us in action: