Maori games teaching kids leadership

LEARNING: Tawhero School students in the E Tu Te Tuakana programme practise aka, a traditional Maori movement. Photo/Stuart Munro

A pilot project under way at Tawhero School aims to bring out the best in Maori students through physical activity.

E Tu Te Tuakana has been running this term at the school and a school in Auckland.

Twice a week, the group of about 12 children spends time with Awhi Turvey from the Whanganui District Health Board and Justin Gush from Awa Sports, learning traditional Maori games and movement.

Ms Turvey said the school had chosen students with natural leadership to take part in the programme.

"But it also targets kids who have the potential to be leaders but may not have had the circumstances or opportunities to use their leadership skills," she said. The students then teach the rest of the school the games they've learned.

"So there are two parts to it - encouraging the students' leadership skills, and revitalising traditional Maori games and movement," Mr Gush said.

The students warm up with a session of aka, a traditional Maori movement art similar to tai chi. Then it's on to more boisterous games such as poi toa raupo - a non-contact form of bullrush using a poi.

Ms Turvey said all the games used very basic equipment such as sticks and feathers.

She said it was a blend of the traditional mixed in with a modern setting.

"And it fits in well with Tawhero School's Puanga celebrations," she said.

The pilot will finish at the end of the term but Ms Turvey and Mr Gush have developed resource kits for the teachers to continue working with the students.

Mr Gush said if the pilot was successful it would be rolled out into other schools.