Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo (Maori immersion Years 0-7)
Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo
Poipoia te kākano kia puawai
(Nurture the seed and it will blossom)
Nau Mai, Haere Mai | Welcome
Welcome to Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo, the heartbeat of Māori medium education at Raglan Area School. We invite whānau to join a learning pathway where academic excellence is achieved through the revitalisation of language, culture, and identity.
He Aha Tēnei? | What is Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo?
Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo is more than a classroom; it is a whānau within our school. It is a dedicated learning environment where Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori are the primary vehicles for instruction and interaction.
We believe that when ākonga (students) are secure in their identity, they soar in their learning. Our unit offers:
- Immersive Learning: Curriculum delivered through Te Reo Māori, fostering fluency and confidence.
Tikanga-Based Values: Everyday interactions grounded in manaakitanga (kindness), whanaungatanga (connection), kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and poutama (personal excellence).
Tuakana-Teina: A collaborative environment where older and younger students support one another’s growth.
Tō Tātou Tuakiri (Our Identity)
Te Pepeha o Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo
This is the foundation of who we are. It connects every student to the landscape of Whaingaroa.
Ko Karioi te Maunga (Karioi is the mountain)
Ko Whaingaroa te Moana (Whaingaroa is the ocean)
Ko Tainui te Waka (Tainui is the canoe)
Ko Poihākena te Marae (Poihākena is the marae)
Ko Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo te Whānau (Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo is the family)
Ō Tātou Hononga | Our Connections
Our learning connects three vital pou (pillars) of our community:
1. Te Maunga (The Guardian) Mt Karioi stands over our school. She is our constant reference point, reminding us to aim high (“Whaia te iti kahurangi”) and to stand firm in our identity.
2. Te Marae (The Anchor) While we acknowledge Ngā Marae o Whaingaroa, our unit maintains a special tuakana-teina relationship with Poihākena Marae. As our closest neighbor, it is our “second classroom” where students learn manaakitanga (hosting) and paepae (oratory) skills in a real-world setting.
3. Te Whenua (The Legacy) We look toward Te Kopua and remember the legacy of Tuaiwa (Eva) Rickard. Her fight to return the land to local hapū is a lesson in Rangatiratanga. Because she fought for our rights and saved the “Old School” buildings to house the first Kōhanga Reo, we have the freedom to learn our language today.
Ō Tātou Whakapapa (Our History)
Te Ara o te Reo (Timeline)
1989 | Te Pūtaketanga: Whaea Wini Bidois establishes the unit with approximately 20 students (Year 0-4).
1991 | Immersion: The unit moves to Total Immersion—teaching exclusively in Te Reo Māori.
2000 | Te Puawaitanga: The dedicated building, Te Puawaitanga, is opened. The roll reaches 79 students.
2003 | Full Growth: Expansion to five full immersion classrooms.
2019 | 30th Anniversary: The community celebrates 30 years. The Hei Kaki sculpture is unveiled.
2025 | Today: A thriving, complete learning pathway producing bilingual graduates.
He Mihi Aroha (Tribute to Our Founder)
Te Pūtake o Te Rōpū: Whaea Wini Bidois In 1989, Whaea Wini Bidois planted a seed for the future of Whaingaroa. At a time when the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori was a struggle, she had the vision to create a space where our tamariki could learn with pride.
“Kua whakatōkia te kākano, ā, kua puāwai te rākau.”
(The seed was planted, and now the tree has blossomed.)
He Mōhio Rānei Koutou? (Did You Know?) – Include photo of Sculpture)
The Story Behind “Hei Kaki” During our 30th Anniversary in 2019, the Hei Kaki sculpture was unveiled at our gateway. In a beautiful “full circle” moment, it was carved by Simon Te Wheoro, a renowned local artist who is himself a former student of Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo.
Te Whakatutuki i te Wawata | Alignment with Our Mission
Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo is not separate from the school’s strategic direction; it is the living expression of our highest aspirations.
Our Vision:
Mana Rangatahi / Empowering Young People
- Identity as Power: By immersing ākonga in their language and culture, we give them the confidence to stand tall. A student who knows their whakapapa and can speak with pride is a student empowered to learn and lead.
- Holistic Wellbeing: We empower the “whole child” by nurturing their wairua (spiritual), hinengaro (mental), tinana (physical), and whānau wellbeing alongside their academic growth.
Our Mission:
Whakanuia te mātauranga i te taiao kākano rua / Celebrating Education In A Bicultural Environment
- Living the Partnership: We provide the authentic Māori medium pathway that makes a “bicultural environment” possible. We ensure that Te Ao Māori is not just a subject, but a lived reality.
- Academic Excellence: We celebrate education by holding high expectations. We access the New Zealand Curriculum through Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, ensuring our graduates achieve academic success in a way that honors their heritage.
Enrolment Pathway
(Developer Note: Format as a step-by-step flow chart)
Title: Te Huarahi ki te Uru (Join Our Whānau)
Step 1: Whakapā Mai (Reach Out)
Contact the office to express interest. No forms needed yet—just a kōrero.
Step 2: Te Hui Whānau (The Meeting)
You will meet with our Kaiako (Head of Unit). We discuss the commitment required for bilingual education and ensure the unit is the right fit for your child.
Step 3: Ngā Pepa (The Paperwork)
Complete the Enrolment Pack, including the specific Te Rōpū Aroha Ki Te Reo agreement.
Step 4: Whakawhanaungatanga (Transition)
Your child attends 2–3 transition visits to meet friends and teachers before starting.
Step 5: Te Pōwhiri (The Welcome)
On the first official attendance day for your child, your whānau is formally welcomed into the school via pōwhiri.
FAQ
Do parents need to speak fluent Māori?
Not necessarily. While helpful, it is not required for New Entrants. We do ask for a commitment to support the language journey at home.
Will English literacy suffer?
Research shows bilingual children often develop stronger cognitive skills. Literacy skills transfer naturally from Te Reo to English.
Is the curriculum the same?
We teach the same essential skills but use Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (Māori medium curriculum), reflecting a Māori worldview while meeting national standards.
How do we enrol?
See the pathway above! It starts with an Expression of Interest and a Whānau Hui.
Does it cost extra?
No. There are no additional tuition fees for the unit.
