Stratford High School last week held a powhiri for its new head of department for Maori, Harry Anneff, welcoming him and his family into the community and school.
With a background in building, Harry has worked for Maori TV for the past three years presenting Marae DIY, which he willcontinue doing. He says he has come back home to Taranaki to help his whanau on their marae, Kete marae Matariki at Normanby. It's time for myself and my cousins to help our kaumatua kuia on the everyday running of our marae to move us forward together as a whanau and return the mana back to Kete marae.
His father is Bulgarian, but his mother (maiden name Turahui) was born and bred in Eltham and his ties to Taranaki are very strong, he says. My great-uncle Harry Turahui owed the pie cart in front of the old picture theatre 30 years ago I used to go and give him a hand. I have many whanau that live in Stratford and whanau that I would like to make connection with like some of my students who are nieces, nephews, cousins of cousins, which is all good, that's what makes a whanau.
With a degree in total immersion Maori, he says his main focus at the school is not just Te Reo Maori. It is only one small part of Te Ao Maori. It is to show the students to be proud to be Maori, to walk with your head up and to show some pride in who you are as a person and that Te Ao Maori is a beautiful world. The reo will come in time but to understand yourself first as a person is a big step for any student.
He lives in Hawera with his wife Audra and their children, Topeora (14), twins Kataraina and Anahera (10) and Tomairangi (4).
