A teacher-only day for a kāhui ako in Tairāwhiti provided the first opportunity for local educators to get together in person since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a focus on collaboration and knowledge-exchange around Te Mātaiaho | the refreshed NZ Curriculum.
The lead principals of the Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Kāhui Ako, along with Ministry of Education curriculum leads, organised a teacher-only day on 24 April to unpack Te Mātaiaho | the refreshed NZ Curriculum, focusing the kaupapa behind the curriculum refresh.
Dr Wayne Ngata MNZM.
Tūranganui-a-Kiwa encompasses three separate kāhui ako of 33 schools working together.
This was the first time that the schools had come together in person since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. It was hosted by Campion College and St Mary’s School. Twenty-four schools were represented, with around 230 attendees altogether.
Keynote speakers included Dr Wayne Ngata MNZM; Carolyn English, chief advisor at the Ministry of Education, and Children’s Commissioner Judge Frances Eivers.
Helen McGuigan, principal of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and lead principal of Taha Hinengaro Gisborne Kāhui Ako, says the day provided an opportunity to connect as a region and spotlight incoming changes that “give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and focus on wellbeing”.
Frances’ video keynote challenged those present to have a broader view of ākonga success, and to recognise the strengths, interests and potential of all students.
She talked about the importance of ensuring that every child achieves at school and lives their best lives.
“Look for individual students’ strengths – everyone has a strength that grounds them in a certain direction. If our mokopuna feel safe at school, if they feel it’s part of their whānau and they’re having fun and want to go to school and want to engage then what you’re doing (as schools) is right.”
Wayne unpacked the whakapapa of Te Mātaiaho and the overarching, guiding kaupapa which expresses the centrality of Te Tiriti O Waitangi articles in its vision for education in Aotearoa.
Wayne is a member of Rōpu Kaitiaki and is the mātauranga Māori expert behind the creation of the model. He also gifted the whakapapa and karakia of Te Mātaiaho.
His kōrero was further elaborated on by curriculum leads Jo Veen and Bruce Hill from the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Te Mahau office, giving kaiako and tumuaki a greater awareness and understanding of Te Mātaiaho from a regional Ministry perspective.
More than 200 people attended a teacher-only day for Tūranganui-a-Kiwa Kāhui Ako.
Tumuaki had a separate workshop session facilitated by Carolyn English, one of the chief advisors from Te Poutāhū | The Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education.
Carolyn unpacked curriculum principles and calls to action from Mātainuku in Te Mātaiaho.
Tumuaki had an in-depth conversation around the shift in language and intent to give effect to Te Tiriti O Waitangi.
Carolyn and tūmuaki also discussed how to implement Te Mātaiaho. The kōrero reinforced that educators all want their students to thrive at school – to be confident and curious.
The broad curriculum presented in Te Mātaiaho provides schools and teachers with opportunities to find the strengths and interests of their learners.
In the afternoon, the educators heard a keynote from Bruce Jepson, president of Te Akatea Māori Principals’ Association.
Bruce shared his vision of kura working in relationship with mana whenua, hapū and iwi. He shared Te Akatea’s vision for an equal share between rangatiratanga and kawanatanga in the education space.
Carolyn says the Ministry has developed a range of tools to help teachers and leaders implement Te Mātaiaho in schools.
“We have an implementation pack which includes a readiness tool to plan and map changes up to 2027, and an overview of implementation supports available and planned.”
Nick Adams, principal of Matawai School, says Te Mātaiaho itself is still in its early stages.
“Having someone share some whakaaro around change management and the complexities involved in taking a new direction with minimal disruption (maximum efficiency, etc) would be great because we are all going to interpret the document in our own setting.
“I was on the Kaitiaki Board for Te Tai Whanake ki Tauranga Moana and the launch is in September. This is a localised curriculum specific to the area. Having something like this would provide a local perspective that would sit alongside Te Mātaiaho. So having a local entity (iwi/hapū) to speak about each tohu from the document’s whakapapa would give us a head start in implementing Te Mātaiaho here in Gisborne.”
Reflecting on the day, Ryan Tapsell, tumuaki of Manutuke School, says, “Engaging with colleagues from different schools and educational contexts provided an opportunity to share insights, exchange ideas, and learn from one another’s experiences.”
Three lead principals of Tūranganui-a-Kiwa: Helen McGuigan, principal of St Mary's Catholic Primary School and lead principal of Taha Hinengaro Gisborne Kāhui Ako; Maria Sheridan, former principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Nga Uri A Maui and lead principal of Taha Tinana Gisborne Kāhui Ako; and Jonathan Poole, principal of Ormond School and lead principal of Taha Whānau Gisborne Kāhui Ako.
Find out more about Te Mātaiaho | the refreshed NZ Curriculum at
education.govt.nz(external link).
Explore the implementation pack and readiness tool at curriculumrefresh.education.govt.nzsupport-schools-leaders-and-teachers(external link).
BY Education Gazette editors
Education Gazette | Tukutuku Kōrero, reporter@edgazette.govt.nz
Posted: 9:25 am, 13 July 2023
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