TORU TEKAU: Ngā Uri a Māui continuing Te Aho Matua vision 30 years on

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Uri a Māui students and whānau are proud of the 30 years of mahi from all those connected to the kura, which has gone from humble beginnings in a refurbished shed in 1993 to a roll of 246 students learning in state-of-the-art facilities.Picture supplied

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Uri a Māui has celebrated its 30th year with all those who have a relationship with the kura.

On September 13, 1993, the first kura kaupapa Māori — Te Aho Matua of Tūranganui a Kiwa — opened its doors in the refurbished shed of Ian and Kerry Procter.

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Uri a Māui began outside of the funding and regulatory systems of the Ministry of Education.

“That meant the whānau who committed themselves to the establishment of the kura, without government monetary assistance and guidance, worked tirelessly and did whatever needed to be done in the development and growth of the kura,” Ngā Uri a Māui chairman Raniera Procter said.

“Ahakoa ko wai, ka taea e koe — regardless of who you are, you can achieve whatever you want,” was written by Papa Te Ohomauri Stewart for the kura to use.

Ngā Uri a Māui was born from a vision of elders Bob Maru, Rakati Renata, Manakura Newby and Rose Stewart out of deep concern about Māori language and identity loss.

The late Dame Katerina Mataira, of Tokomaru Bay, in her wisdom penned the education philosophy Te Aho Matua — from  which the principles of all kura kaupapa Māori are founded — as a salvation for Māori students and their families from the mainstream school system.

Kōhanga reo and Te Ataarangi are language revitalisation movements focused primarily on developing fluency of Māori as a spoken language and encouraging whānau to speak as much as they can in the home.

Kura Kaupapa Māori - Te Aho Matua is an extension of these movements.

“It was this Te Aho Matua educational model that enticed a small group of parents in the early 1990s to open Ngā Uri a Māui, thereby reclaiming their right to an education pathway that ensured success using a Māori lens delivered by whānau,” Mr Procter said.

Now, 30 years on from humble beginnings, the kura is well established with 246 students and state-of-the-art facilities at its Nelson Road location.

The kura has nurtured many graduates, some of whom have returned to continue on the legacy.

The kura recognises the many elders who have passed — too many to name, but all held dear in the hearts of the kura.

“Kei ngā manu tāiko e oki, waiho ma ngā mata o te arero ā mohoa noa nei koutou e hahu mai anō — our leaders who have passed, let the leaders of today elevate your dreams and aspirations,” Mr Procter said.

The 30-year anniversary also marks the role Ngā Uri a Māui  has played in normalising the use of Māori language in Gisborne.

The school had four celebrations to make the milestone — a rangi hākinakina (sports day) with kura kaupapa o Te Tairāwhiti; a rangi kōhanga reo birthday with kōhanga reo o Tūranga; a rangi rā whānau o te kura (whānau day) on its actual birthday; and a pō whakangahau (formal birthday celebration) for past and present staff and raukura at Bushmere Arms.

The kura has rededicated itself to continuing to build on the success of Kura Kaupapa Māori-Te Aho Matua into the future under new principal Jodi Smith.

The board of trustees, staff and whānau congratulated tumuaki Smith on her appointment.

“The poutokomanawa of our kura, Nanny Maude Brown, would be so proud.

“Ahakoa no hea koe, he uri koe na Māui — regardless of where you are from, you are a descendent of Māui.”