Celebration, concerns in 40th year of Te Whakaruruhau Kōhanga Reo

Pirihira Poi was a first day pupil of Te Whakaruruhau Kohanga Reo which has celebrated its 40th year. Pictures by Paul Rickard

Te Whakaruruhau Kōhanga Reo is thriving as they mark their 40th year in operation.

Those who have attended or have had a relationship with the kōhanga reo on Tyndall Road celebrated the milestone on Tuesday with other kura kaupapa and kōhanga reo.

They chose Tuesday as in their maramataka (Māori lunar calendar) it is a time of high energy.

Te Whakaruruhau started operating in 1982, but only part-time as it was based in Tyndall House,  a community property owned by the Gisborne District Council.

But  just a year later the house was purchased by the Department of Māori Affairs and the  kōhanga reo there became full-time.

It is one of the oldest, most well-established kōhanga reo in Tairāwhiti.

“We are absolutely thriving after all these years,” administrator Alana Irwin said.

The kōhanga is licensed for 50 tamariki, but they only take 40 to  have “quality over quantity,” she says.

“We want to have quality delivery; that  theme has come from our nannies before us. They were always about quality, but they didn’t see it like that — it was just natural aroha,” she said.

Tamariki and whānau from Te Tihi o Titirangi Kōhanga, Kimihia te Kupu Kōhanga, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Horouta Wānanga, and Hawaiki Hou, along with a whānau roopu from Te Kura o Waikirikiri came to celebrate the day.

Whāia Titirangi from Te Poho o Rawiri Marae came along to help as adult supervision.

E Tipu Kōhanga Reo in Ūawa Tolaga Bay were invited as the two have a close relationship and participate in wānanga kaupapa together.

Pirihira Poi, who was a first day pupil of Te Whakaruruhau and is now a kaiako at E Tipu Kōhanga reo said it was miharo (excellent) to be able to celebrate this milestone.

“I think about what it was like when it started compared to now — it’s awesome.”

There were all sorts of activities and kai for everyone to enjoy.

Last week Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni visited the kōhanga to hear about their journey with takiwātanga tamariki (children with autism), or what they call awhiorangi. Awhiorangi means children of the universe.

Bradie Keelan, a kaiako at the kōhanga, holds a Bachelor’s degree in specialist teaching with distinction in early intervention and is about to complete a Masters in the same field through Massey University.

“Te Whakaruruhau kōhanga reo has been on a journey to provide a safe and skilled environment for our tamariki mokopuna awhiorangi within our whānau,” she said.

“Here, our kaimahi are passionate and dedicated to implementing ngā kōrero tuku iho o matua tīpuna and weaved with that of the western paradigms to ensure our mokopuna are nurtured within te kaupapa o kōhanga reo.”

One issue Alana is acutely aware of, is the limited number of spaces at kōhanga reo for tamariki.

“In Kaiti, there are three kōhanga reo, with a combined total of 100 available spaces for tamariki. These are at full capacity.”

Kaiti has a population of around 12,000, and a large majority (7000-8000) are Māori.

This means that whānau Māori are missing out on connecting with the kōhanga reo kaupapa, Alana says.

“It’s a limited resource for our people. Why? It’s systemic. The various Governments set it up like this — it is done deliberately. It’s all a part of the colonisation that continues today. How many spaces are available in the mainstream sector for whānau and tamariki in the Kaiti area? Much more than 100.”

“When kōhanga reo began in the early 1980s there were around 2000 throughout Aotearoa. They were started by our kuia and koroua who were motivated by the fear of losing our language. Kōhanga reo is a beautiful kaupapa and is extremely empowering for tamariki, whānau, hapu and iwi.”

Today there are fewer than 500 kōhanga reo in Aotearoa.

“The cause of this, again, is systemic — Government policy and legislation that has hindered the development and strong progression of the kōhanga reo kaupapa and been the main obstacle.

“In spite of this we at Te Whakaruruhau Kōhanga Reo are strong in our resolve, our mana motuhake,” Alana said.

“Kōhanga is the seed that can change the world. If we can get just one more whānau into here, and that causes them to reconnect with te ao Māori (the Māori worldview) we know we have made the world a better place.”

“Kōhanga reo is amazing. I wish we had 500, if not 1500 spaces in Kaiti for whānau and tamariki to go to. Our up-and-coming raukura that are the product of kōhanga have the answers. They are the experts for our future, and for the kōhanga kaupapa to thrive, not just survive,” she said.