Whanau Approach to Learning
Our Whanau Learning approach has been co-constructed to enhance our supportive school culture. This is about establishing inclusive learning opportunities within a Whanau environment.
This learning environment, we believe, enriches our school’s culture through mixed social and academic engagement, that enables progress and achievement through collaborative approaches that fosters respect for self and others.
As a school we are privileged to work with and have a close partnership with Ngati Whakaue. This relationship benefits all our students as residents of Rotorua, in having a positive understanding of local iwi, local history and traditional Maori tikanga. ‘From Knowledge and awareness grows understanding and respect’.
Whanau Koromatua
Our whanau are named after the six Koromatua of Ngati Whakaue; Te Roro o te Rangi, Tunohopu, Pukaki, Hurungaterangi, Te Rangiiwaho and Taeotu (our Pathways team).
Each of these ancestors are chiefs in their own right and are recognised for the mana that they brought to Ngati Whakaue and indeed, all of Te Arawa.
Whanau Vision
“To enable all learners to walk tall with the knowledge of our mana, our identity and our place in our world. Every learner will feel valued and have a sense of belonging through success in physical, social, cultural, academic experiences, connecting to the legacy of our Koromatua.”
Te Roro o Te Rangi Whanau
Nā Ariariterangi ka puta ko Te Roro o Te Rangi
Ka puta nei te korero…
“Ruia taitea, ruia taitea, Kia tu ko tai kākā, ko au ānake”
Here at Te Kura Takawaenga o Rotorua, we offer instruction in two mediums. English and Te Reo Māori. Our Reo Rua classes consist of our MLE and one Rumaki Reo class.
Reo Rua is where instructions are in both languages. We work from the Te Marautanga O Aotearoa document and incorporate Te Reo Māori and embrace tikanga Māori in our everyday classroom practice. We welcome everyone who is keen to immerse themselves and their child in Te Reo Māori and customs.
Rumaki, we offer a high quality Māori immersion programme.This programme is delivered 80% in Te Reo Māori. It is expected that children who choose this programme have a lower-intermediate to advanced foundation of Te Reo.
Ko ngā akonga kei te whatumanawa ō ngā mea katoa, the students are at the heart of all we do. Manaakitanga, Kaitiakitanga, mohiotanga and Rangatiratanga are the values and knowledge we hope all our tauira successfully develop in their time here. Kia ū ki nga kaupapa ā kui, ā koro mā. Kia tū Māori ai i roto i tenei ao hurihuri.
Te Rangiiwaho Whanau
Our koromatua, Te Rangiiwaho, was the son of Te Kata of Ngati Whakaue and Waoku of Ngati Uenukukopako/Ngati Raukawa. He was born in Kawaha and was nephew to Te Roro o te rangi and Tūnohopū.
Te Rangiiwaho, was a strong leader who fought with, and for, his whānau during many battles. However, as his mana and experience grew, the mighty warrior became a mighty peace maker. A time came where Te Rangiiwaho felt enough blood had been spilt, and he facilitated peace between Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Whakaue. Together, these iwi protected Pukeroa from their enemies for years to come.
“Whiria te kaha, tua makatia, e motu honoa, purutia Rotorua”
“Plait the rope, double it if need be, splice it if it breaks, but hold Rotorua”.
As a whānau within Rotorua Intermediate School, we look to our whakatauāki to support our habits for learning. We encourage all our students to be successfully achieving people, in the ever-changing landscape of the world.
“He waka eke noa” – We are all in this together.
As new learners come into our whānau each year, they are spliced into the rope – they become part of us and add to our strength. Our vision is to move together towards our learning goals, supporting each other and working in unison.
Hurungaterangi Whanau
Ko wai te toa, no wai te toa? Ko Hurungaterangi e tū nei!
We are Hurangaterangi, named after one of the prestigious Koromātua of Ngāti Whakaue, and who is also a descendant of Tutanekai.
Ko Moerangi te maunga
Ko Te-Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe te moana
Ko Puarenga te awa
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Ngāti Whakaue nui tonu te iwi
Ko Ngāti Hurungaterangi te hapū
Ko Hurungaterangi te whare tūpuna
Ko Whaingārangi te wharekai
Ko Hurungaterangi te marae.
Ko te paetawhiti, whaia kia tata! Ko te paetata, whakamaua kia eke ki te pae o angitū!
The kaupapa of Hurungaterangi Whanau
‘Ki te pirangi koe ki ngaa kai o te moana me maakuu koe.’
If you want the foods of the ocean, you’re going to have to get wet.
Naa te Wharehuia Milroy te whakatauki.
This whakatauki is about taking the opportunities that lie in font of us and the wero being to embrace these opportunities as tauira of our Hurungaterangi Whanau and Te Kura Takuwaenga O Rotorua.
Hurungaterangi is one of our koromatua who is remembered for his bravery and courage in all he did. In doing so, he had to be committed to managing himself, and others, to achieve his goal. Our vision is one of Hurungaterangi tauira being self managing, taking on the wero of new opportunities presented in learning and across our kura. Our students are in charge of their choices and actions, and while doing so, having fun, experiencing whakawhanaungatanga, working collaboratively to achieve common goals.
Pukaki Whanau
Pukaki Whānau is named after the great 18th century Whakaue leader. Pūkaki was born at Tūtānekai’s pā, ‘Kaiweka’, on the southern shores of Mokoia Island. When he got older he went to live in Parawai pā at Ngongotahā. He was the son of Taiwere, brother of Ariariterangi, and Tamiuru, a daughter of Te Takinga of Ngati Pikiao.
In the early 1800’s, a great carving was made of totara from the Ngongotahā stream in remembrance of this great Whakaue leader, who was an exceptional warrior and strategist. The carving was built as a waharoa, a rather unique and innovative gateway system at Ohinemutu in the 1830’s. Innovation is a key attribute for which we remember Pukaki and as a whānau, we especially strive to adopt innovation as Habit for Learning. It is with innovation that we care, bond, learn, support and guide in our whānau. With this lens, we are motivated by the whakatauki,
“Kaua e rangiruatia te hapai o te hoe; e kore to tatou waka e u ki uta.”
“Do not lift the paddle out of unison or our canoe will never reach the shore.”
Tunohopu Whanau
Through Whanaungatanga we aim to develop culturally responsive and productive members of society, confident in their identity. Through our unique curriculum contexts and the values of our koromatua Tunohopu we will develop students who engage in varied ways of knowing, being and learning.
We aim to strengthen in them the characteristics that will help them to be successful in whatever life paths they choose. We expect to collaborate with students and their Whānau by creating meaningful learning experiences to enrich their learning lives and make them excited for their futures.
“Hei aha au te mate noa ake, i taku pa karito ka tupu” Na Tunohopu
“And what if I should die, when my legacy, my descendants live on” said Tunohopu
This whakatauki is about resilience and service. Our ancestor Tunohopu left his people to go to Taupo to rescue his son Taioperua, who had been kidnapped and was presumed dead. His iwi, Ngāti Whakaue, were distraught and pleaded with him not to go. Tunohopu addressed his people and spoke the above words, reassuring them that even if something happened to him, they were his ‘pa karito’, his descendants, his legacy. Their lives would go on and the mahi that he did would be carried on through them.