Kura Reo ki Arahura 2024

Reo Māori Mai supported the running of Kura Reo ki Arahura from the 7th-10th of July. It was an amazing time, with over 100 whānau members from across 4 generations coming together to learn te reo Māori, to connect to one another and to learn more about ourselves and Te Tai Poutini.

Mihi & Kōrero Tuakiri Reading Kura Reo ki Arahura 2024 1 minute

By Lucy DenhamSep 6, 20240 comments

We grew our reo with some fantastic teachers; Hona Black, Paiheretia Aperahama and Ariana Stevens. Whānau also had the chance to engage with different pūkenga; Missy Campbell ran a raranga workshop, Maurice Manawatu shared pūrākau Ngāi Tahu, and Vicci Sword and Lucy Denham held creative space to make kāri mihi.

A big mihi to those who ran the hōtaka tamariki/kids programme. This support was essential to create space for mātua/parents to focus on their learning while their tamariki and mokopuna were safe and well (and elsewhere!).

Check out this kiriata/video to see what whānau got up to during kura reo, and hear kōrero from our kaiako. See the transcript below for an English translation of this kiriata.

Ariana Stevens (0:13) This week we are at Arahura running Kura Reo ki Arahura, this is the third kura reo we have had here in our home district. That’s the big task ahead of us. For a long time the West Coast of the South Island has felt the absence of the Māori language. There are fewer than 10 proficient speakers of the language here in our region, therefore this is an important initiative to grow/develop the pool of speakers, and build the confidence of the families to return to the marae. Because we run a kid’s program as part of this kura reo, it frees up parents to participate. This is a point of difference from most other kura reo, as often whānau struggle to find childcare. We are very aware if we didn't have a kid’s program during kura reo, most of the participants here wouldn't be able to attend. Whānau have let us know having their kids cared for is a big factor in them being able to attend. According to the learners they feel at ease entering this space/kura reo. We host kura reo during school holidays. We start on a Sunday, we welcome the people, we sort them into groups, and those sorts of things. Come Monday, the lessons with our language experts begin. This is the first year I've stood as a teacher at kura reo ki Arahura. I've offered language around food time, we've discussed proverbs to support growth in that language area, we've also discussed language planning. This is to support people and whānau to prepare well for their personal language journey. Paiheretia Aperahama (2:35) I’ve been invited to be a teacher for this kura reo. The people of this place have long persisted to keep the language alive, that is the reason I have chosen to come along, to support the language revitalisation efforts. We have turned our learning towards

understanding the stars, and the role they play in our lives, and this world we live in. I've see many accounts throughout our histories and narratives that always link back to our stars. I'm just trying to plant a seed in to the minds and heart of those here, to seek further knowledge beyond their time here, beyond what is learnt and taught here. Hona Black (3:55) The focus of the lessons today is language of the home. Language used in the home will differ from house to house, based on their language proficiency; so for those more proficient, the learning focus is the language of fun teasing/giving cheek, asking questions and how to respond, that kind of level of reo. How to speak to babies, and for those who have just embarked on their language journey, the focus is on simpler sentences, on extending their vocabulary. In saying this, the focus it is not just the language of the home but more the language of the family. The language options are expansive. It is not as if we should only focus on the proficient speakers, but create space for those that I mentioned before, that have just embarked on their language journey. The great things about this kura reo is we’re including everyone, the kura reo isn't exclusive based on a person's language skills. Therefore the focus is not isolated to the language alone, but a holistic approach for the person as a whole. We focus on the potential future, we focus on the younger generation, and the older generations learning the language. We are looking to connections, to the future. We’re not just here for te reo. Ariana Stevens (5:39) Today is Tuesday. Today’s lessons are alongside experts. The teachers are versed in a particular skill; pūrākau expertise, whakapapa expertise, weaving expertise, and creative expertise. At this time it is myself and my team of Reo Māori Mai that are leading out on this mahi. Firstly, the hope for the future is that

other whānau, other organisations, other groups will step forward to support behind the scenes of the running of this mahi; secondly, that whānau will start establishing their own initiatives, with the aim that these initiatives will reflect their own desires. At this time we are engaging in conversations with whānau on their desires and aspirations. Whānau are the right people to be establishing their own initiatives in the coming years. A big aspiration, when the time is right, is that kura reo ki Arahura will be a total immersion space. At the moment it is run bilingually due to the current language levels of whānau. However, the pool of proficient speakers is growing, as well as the confidence to stay immersed in the language. Total immersion is the end goal, and the hope is that it isn't as far as it once was, but is now slightly closer. We of Poutini Ngāi Tahu, Ngati Waewae and Ngāti Māhaki in Makaawhio, and us of Reo Māori Mai want to acknowledge Te Mātāwai for their financial support, because finding funds to fund these types of opportunities is hard. This program has really grown in these three years. We are fortunate for their consideration towards us. For that reason we send our thanks to them.

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Kura Reo ki Arahura 2024

Mihi & Kōrero Tuakiri