Kia kaha te reo Māori!

We have had a busy week celebrating Te wiki o te reo Māori at Long Bay College. Our whainga / goal was to promote and normalise the usage of te reo Māori in everyday life.  

Our Year 10 Māori Studies class stepped up to lead activities that promoted the use of Te reo Māori. They chose their favourite whakataukī / proverbs and shared these on the Long Bay College social media and over daily speaker announcements for the school. One whakataukī they chose was, “Kāore te kumara e kōrero ana mo tōna ake reka”. This translates as: the kumara does not brag about its own sweetness. This reminds us to be humble. 

On Wednesday our Years 9 and 10 Atawhai classes were taught some basic vocabulary for ordering food in te reo Māori. The school generously supplied parāoa parai / fry bread – similar to a doughnut, at lunch time over one hundred ākonga / students took part in speaking te reo Māori. They were rewarded with parāoa parai, tiamu / jam, mīere / golden syrup and pata / butter. They were also awarded house points for their participation. 

On Thursday our school took part in Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori – the Māori Language Moment – which commemorates the day the Māori Language Petition was presented to Parliament in 1972. This significant event helped start what we now know as Te wiki o te reo Māori. Or school participated by saying our school karakia / blessing across the school at 12.15pm. An awesome group of Year 10 students led this over the loudspeaker. 

Finally, our Kapa Haka, will also be celebrating te reo Māori, engaging in various community events. They will perform for Torbay Rest home, the pre-school session at East Coast Bays library, and at a concert for local kindergartens at Long Bay Primary. They will also be part of an East Coast Bays Community Kapa Haka festival held at  Phoenix Plaza in Browns Bay on Sunday 17th September, from 2pm. They would appreciate your support on the day from friends and whānau. 

We hope that our school community felt encouraged to speak te reo Māori this week, and every week, and may have learnt a few new kupu / words.

Kia kaha te reo Māori! 

 

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Important Dates
Alumni Day and Last Day of Term 3
Friday 19 September
Scholarship Practice Exams (Scholarship Exam Students Only)
Monday 15 - Wednesday 17 September
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Language Week
Sunday 14 - Saturday 20 Hepetema (September)
Literacy and Numeracy Assessents (Year 10 - 13 Students As Needed)
Thursday 4 - Friday 12 September
Senior Exams and Workshops (Year 11,12 and 13 Students)
Thursday 4 - Friday 12 September
Daffodil Day - Cancer Society
Friday 29 August
Winter Sports Tournament Week
Monday 25 - Friday 29 August
Gateway 2026 Information Evening
Wednesday 20 August
Students Select Subjects for 2026 via School Bridge
Monday 28 July - Sunday 10 September