Te Kōhanga Reo O Pirirakau

1 He Kupu Arataki

Kua mahi ngātahi Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, ngā whānau, ngā kaiārahi, ngā kaimahi me ngā hapori ki te whakawhanake i ngā tirohanga aromātai e whai wāhi nui ai ki te hāpai i te kawenga takohanga me te whakapaitanga, ki te tautuhi i te ahu whakamua, ā, ki te whakapakari ake hoki i te āheinga ki te aromātai. E hāngai ana tēnei pūrongo ki ā rātou pūnaha, ki ā rātou whakaritenga, me ā rātou mahi whakahaere. Ka whakarato ngā pūrongo a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i ngā mōhiohio mātuatua mā ngā hapū me ngā iwi.

2 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirirākau ki Te Puna, i Tauranga. E tū ana ki te taha o te ratonga hauora, ā, he haerenga mā raro noa ki te kura me ngā marae o te hapori nei. He hononga ō te whānau ki ngā marae e whā e tū pā tata ana, ā, ko Ngāti Pirirākau te hapū.  

3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te whāngai me te poipoi a te whānau i te reo Māori mō ngā mokopuna?

E whakarato ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirirākau i tētahi taiao e whakamana ana i te reo Māori mō ngā mokopuna.  

4 Mana Whakahaere

Ko te whanaungatanga te tino tūāpapa mō te āhua o ngā mahi whakahaere a te whānau i tō rātou kōhanga reo. E whakatakoto ana te tūtohinga i te tino aronga, i te huarahi hoki mō te whānau. Ko te reo Māori te kaupapa matua e pou here ana i ngā whakaritenga katoa. E whakatakoto ana ngā meneti o ngā hui ā-whānau i ngā tino mōhiohio. Ka tautuhia ngā take whakahaere ki ngā pūrongo mārama. Ko ngā kaupapa here matua me ngā tukanga matua mō te hauora me te haumaru, e hāngai katoa ana ki te wā me ngā herenga ā-ture. Ka whakapuakihia aua tūāhuatanga i ia te wā mā ngā pae ipurangi, hei whakaarotanga mā ngā whānau, kia puta ai ngā kōrero urupare. Ka pūrongohia, ka āta aroturukitia hoki ngā take e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru. Whakapuakihia ai ki te whānau i ia te wā, ko ngā mōhiohio e pā ana ki tēnā e mahia ana, e ākona ana hoki e ngā mokopuna. Kua oti te arohaehae kaimahi. He aronga ki te whakapiki ake i ngā pūkenga o ngā kaimahi i roto i te reo Māori, me te whakapakari ake i te āheinga ki te tū hei tino kaiārahi ā tōna wā. Ka kawe ngātahitia ngā haepapa ki waenga i te whānau, kia tutuki ngā take whakahaere. Ka whai hua ngā mokopuna nā ngā tukanga whakataunga e whai mōhiohio ana.

E whakaraupapa ana te mahere rautaki i ngā kaupapa matua o te pae tata me te pae tawhiti. Kua āta tautuhia ngā whāinga o te whānau, ā, ka hāpai ērā i te whanaketanga o te kōhanga reo mō meāke nei. Ka hāngai ki te whakawhanaungatanga, ki te reo Māori, ki te arotakenga o ngā mahi whakahaere, me te whakahou ake i ngā rauhanga. Ka whai hua ngā mokopuna nā te rōnakitanga o ngā whakaritenga me te tirohanga a te whānau.

Kua āta whakatakotohia e ngā kaimahi ngā tukanga e pā ana ki te whakamahere, te aromatawai, me te aromātai hōtaka. E whai kiko ana ngā mahere, kua āta whakaritea, ā, kua tuhia hoki. Ka whakarato ngā kaimahi i te tangongitanga o ngā wheako, tae atu ki ngā waiata, ngā mōteatea, me ngā whakapapa o te hapū me te iwi. Ka waihangatia ngā taumahi hei poipoi i ngā tūmomo rōpū reanga me ngā matea ako o ia mokopuna. He hakune ngā aromatawai, ā, ka whai pūtake hoki. Ka whai wāhi ki ngā aromatawai, ko Te Mātai i te Katoa o te Mokopuna me ngā pūkete e pā ana ki ia tamaiti. Ka whakamahi ngā kaimahi i te aromātai hōtaka hei aroturuki i te kounga o te hōtaka akoranga. Ka whakaaro huritao, ka whakawhiti kōrero, ā, ka whakapuaki hoki rātou i ngā rautaki e whakapakari ai, e aro nui ai hoki ki ngā matea o ngā mokopuna. Ka whai hua ngā mokopuna nā te tōpūtanga o ngā whakaritenga e pou herea ana ki te whanaungatanga.  

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake 

Kāhore anō kia whakamanahia ngā take e pā ana ki ngā kaimahi. Kua whakatau tahi Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me te whānau, ka whakawāteahia ngā tuhinga hei te taenga atu a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ki te kōhanga reo.  

5 Te Whakatau ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga

I te wā o te arotake, i tirohia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā pūnaha ki te whakahaere i ngā wāhanga e whai ake nei, arā, ki:

• te haumaru ā-whatumanawa, tae atu ki te ārahi mauritau me te ārai tamariki

• te haumaru ā-tinana, tae atu ki te mātakitaki tamariki, ngā whakaritenga whakamoe, ngā aituā, te whāngai rongoā; me ngā kaupapa here, ngā tukanga hoki mō ngā haerenga whakawaho

• te tū tika o ngā kaimahi, tae atu ki te tika o ngā tohu mātauranga, ngā mahi arowhai a ngā pirihimana, me te tatauranga ki waenga i te kaiako me te tamaiti 

• ngā whakaritenga ohotata me ngā tikanga ohotata e pā ana ki te rū whenua, te ahi, te waipuke, te tai āniwhaniwha, me te mate urutā.

6 Te Taunakitanga

I whakawhanakehia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me te whānau o te kōhanga reo te taunakitanga e whai ake nei, arā, kia whakawāteahia e te whānau ngā tuhinga kaimahi katoa me ngā mōhiohio katoa e whai pānga ana, otirā, i tēnā i tautuhia ai ki tēnei pūrongo hei whakaritenga matua ka whai ake.

Darcy Te Hau
Toka ā Nuku
Te Uepū-a-Motu – Māori Services

28 Hōngongoi, 2023

7 Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te Kōhanga Reo

1 Introduction

The Education Review Office (ERO) in collaboration with whānau, leaders, kaimahi and their communities develop evaluation insights that foster accountability and improvement, identify progress and build evaluation capability. This report reflects their systems, operations and management practices. ERO’s reports provide important information for whānau, hapū and iwi.

2 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirirakau is in Te Puna, Tauranga. The kōhanga reo is situated next to the hauora services and is in walking distance of the local kura and marae. Whānau are all connected to the four neighbouring marae who all affiliate to Ngāti Pirirakau. 

3 Evaluation Focus

How well do whānau foster and nurture te reo Māori for mokopuna?

Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirirakau provides an environment that values te reo Māori for mokopuna.

4 Mana Whakahaere

Whanaungatanga forms a strong basis for how whānau manage their kōhanga reo. The Tūtohinga provides clear direction and guidance for whānau. It prioritises te reo Māori as the kaupapa and underpins all practices.  Whānau hui minutes provide valuable information. Operational matters are defined by clear reporting. Core health and safety policies and procedures are current and align to legislation. These are distributed regularly via online platforms to whānau for input and feedback. Health and safety matters are reported and closely monitored. Information of what mokopuna are doing and learning is regularly shared with whanau. Kaimahi appraisals are complete. There is a focus on increasing kaimahi skill in te reo Māori and building capability to become effective, future leaders. Responsibilities are shared amongst whanau to meet operational matters. Mokopuna benefit from informed decision-making processes. 

The strategic plan outlines long and short-term priorities. Whānau objectives are clearly identified and provide future development of the kōhanga reo. These include whakawhanaungatanga, te reo Māori, reviewing operations and facility upgrades. Mokopuna benefit from sustainable practices and vision amongst whānau.

Kaimahi have established processes for planning, assessment, and programme evaluation. Planning is detailed, well organised, and documented. Kaimahi provide a variety of experiences including waiata mōteatea and whakapapa of the hapū and iwi. Activities are created to suit different age groups and individual mokopuna learning needs. Assessment is intentional and purposeful. This includes Te Matai i Te Katoa o Te Mokopuna and individual portfolios. Kaimahi use programme evaluation to monitor the quality of the learning programme. They engage in reflection, discussion, and the sharing of strategies to strengthen and respond to mokopuna needs. Mokopuna benefit from collaborative practices underpinned by whanaungatanga.    

Key Next Steps

Matters relating to personnel are yet to be verified. ERO and the whānau have agreed that documentation will be available for the onsite visit.       

5 Kōhanga Whānau Assurance on Legal Requirements

During the evaluation, ERO looked at systems for managing the following areas:

• emotional safety including positive guidance and child protection

• physical safety including supervision, sleep procedures, accidents, medication, excursion policy and procedures

• suitable staffing including appropriate qualifications, police vetting, ratios

• emergency procedures and practices for earthquakes, fire, flood, tsunami and pandemic.

6 Recommendation

ERO and the kōhanga reo whānau developed the following recommendation that the whānau will make available all relevant personnel documentation and information as identified in the key next steps of this report.   

Darcy Te Hau
Toka-ā-Nuku – Director
Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services

28 July 2023

7 Information about the Kōhanga Reo

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirirākau ki Te Puna, i Tauranga. E tū ana ki te taha o ngā kāinga o ngā kaumātua me te ratonga hauora o te hapū, ā, he tata anō hoki te haere mā raro atu ki te kura, te whare karakia, me te marae. He tātai hono tō te whānau katoa ki ngā marae e whā o Ngāti Pirirākau.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa ngā tamariki e whakaatu i tō rātou māramatanga ki te Pirirākautanga?

E mōhio ana ngā tamariki nō Pirirākau rātou, ā, e mōhio ana hoki rātou ki tēnā me tēnā o tō rātou whānau whānui.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

E poipoia ana ngā tamariki ki tētahi taiao e mau ana i te aroha me te manaakitanga. Ka whakatauira ngā kaimahi me te whānau i ngā hononga whakaute. He pakari, he mauritau anō hoki ngā taunekeneke a ngā tamariki ki waenga i a rātou anō me ngā pākeke. Ka tū pakari rātou ki te ārahi i ngā karakia me ngā waiata. Ka whakatakoto te whānau i ngā whai wāhitanga mō ngā tamariki ki te taunekeneke i ia te wā ki te taha o ngā kaumātua. He mātātoa te tū o ngā tamariki hei tuākana mō ō rātou tēina. Ka whai wāhi atu ngā pēpi ki ngā mahinga mā te tautoko o ētahi atu. E whakapuaki ana te whānau i te aroha, te manaaki, me te āwhina i ngā wā katoa. Ka rumakina ngā tamariki ki te whanaungatanga. Kei te mauritau, kei te harikoa hoki ngā tamariki.

Ko te aronga toi whenuatanga o ngā tamariki tētahi tino aronga matua i te hōtaka. Ka whakatinanahia e te whānau ki te hōtaka, ko ngā mōhiotanga e whai pānga nui ana ki a Pirirākau. Ka ako ngā tamariki i ngā karakia me ngā hīmene o tō rātou hapū. Ka hāpai ngā kaimahi i te tū o ngā tamariki tēina ki te taki i ō rātou pepeha, ā, ka tū takitahi kē ngā tuākana i te nuinga o te wā i a rātou e whakapuaki ana i ō rātou pepeha. Ka waiata rātou i ngā wai e whakapūmau ana i ō rātou hononga ki ngā kōrero tuku iho o te hapori nei. Ka whakaatu ki te wāhi o waho, ko ngā ingoa o ngā tino pou whenua me ngā tūpuna o te hapori. Haere ai, taunekeneke ai hoki rātou i ia te wā, ki ngā wāhi e noho whakahirahira ana ki a Ngāti Pirirākau. E mōhio ana rātou ki ngā wāhi noho o tēnā me tēnā, me ō rātou tātai whakapapa ki waenga i a rātou anō. E mōhio ana ngā tamariki ki tō rātou tūrangawaewae.

E ako ana ngā tamariki ki tētahi taiao e whakanuia ana te mita ake o te reo Māori o Pirirākau. Ka kitea ki ngā pēpi tō rātou mārama ki ngā tohutohu me ngā pātai i roto i te reo Māori, mā ō rātou reo ā-tinana, ā-kanohi hoki. Ka āta whakapuaki te whānau i ngā kupu me te reo ake o tō rātou hapū. Ka āta whakamahia ngā waiata hei whakapūmau i ngā akoranga me ngā mahinga. E mōhio ana ngā tamariki ki ngā kupu māmā, ā, he tika anō hoki ā rātou whakautu kōrero. Ka akiaki ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki ki te tāwhai i ngā hanganga rerenga kōrero e tika ana. E whakawhanake ana ngā tamariki i tō rātou māramatanga ki te reo o Pirirākau.

He pakari ngā tamariki ki te tūhura i ngā taiao o roto, o waho hoki i te kōhanga reo. Ka whakarato te whānau i te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo taputapu i te papa tākaro, ā, e akiaki ana ēnei i te tūhura me te tākaro auaha. He māhorahora te ngaoki me te tūhura haere a ngā pēpi. Ka ngākau nui rātou ki te whai wāhi atu ki ngā poi, ngā taonga puoro, me ētahi atu tūmomo taputapu. Ka whai wāhi nui hoki ngā tamariki ki te taiao māoriori, tūturu hoki o Pirirākau. Ka āta whakarite i te whai hononga o ngā atua Māori ki ngā akoranga me ngā wheako o ngā tamariki. Ka hāpai rātou i ngā tamariki ki te whakawhiti atu i aua akoranga ki te taiao tonu o Pirirākau. He whai wāhitanga anō hoki mō ngā tamariki ki te taunekeneke i ia te wā ki te hapori whānui tonu. He ngākau titikaha ō ngā tamariki ki te ako.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

He pai te whakahaeretanga a te whānau i ngā whakaritenga ki te kōhanga reo. Ka ārahi te mahere rautaki me te mahere ā-tau i te whānau. Ka whakatutukihia, ka aroturukitia anō hoki ngā take e pā ana ki ngā kaimahi, ngā pūtea, te hauora, me te haumaru. Hui ai rātou i ia te wā ki te whakawhiti kōrero mō ngā whakahaeretanga i te kōhanga reo, me ngā tūmomo whakarerekētanga pea e tika ana. Kua tāutuhia e te whānau ā rātou kaupapa matua mō te wā kei te heke mai. Kua whakaritea e rātou ngā pūnaha e hāpai ai i te rōnaki tonutanga o te kōhanga reo. Ko ētahi o aua pūnaha e pā ana ki te whiwhinga o ngā kaimahi i ngā tohu mātauranga, me te whakapaitanga ake o ngā putanga mō ngā tamariki. E mahi ngātahi ana te whānau hei painga mō ā rātou tamariki.

He pai te whakahaere i te aromatawai a ngā tamariki me te arotake hōtaka. E ākina ana te whai wāhi mai o te whānau ki ngā mahi e waihanga ana i te hōtaka akoranga. E aro nui ana ki te whakapai tonu me te āta whakarite i te whakatutukitanga o ngā matea ako o ngā tamariki. Ka whakatakotohia te ako me te ahu whakamua a ia tamaiti ki roto i tana pūkete. He tuhinga i ngā whakaahua e tohu ana i te reo ake o te tamaiti, ā, e hono ana hoki ki Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira. Whakapuakihia ai aua tūāhuatanga ki te whānau i ia te wā. He auau anō hoki te arotake i te hōtaka. Ka hui ngā kaimahi ki te whakawhiti kōrero mō te āhua o te ahu whakamua a ngā tamariki, me ngā āhuatanga anō hoki e whai hua ana. Ka tuhi rātou i te whai huatanga o ā rātou whakaritenga, me ngā huarahi tonu ka whāia hei whakapai tonu. Ka aro nui ngā kaimahi ki ngā matea o te whānau me ngā tamariki. E whakatutukihia ana ngā matea ako o ngā tamariki.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Kua tae ki te wā kia arotakengia e ngā kaimahi ā rātou tukanga e pā ana ki te whakamahere hōtaka. Me whakapakari ake ngā mahi whakamahere, hei āta whakatutuki i ngā matea ako o ngā tamariki katoa. Me tāutu hoki i ngā rautaki e tika ana ki te whakawhānui ake i ngā whakaaro o ngā tamariki i roto i ngā wheako ako me te reo Māori. Ka whai hua ngā tamariki i te wā e whakawhānui ake ana ngā mahere i ō rātou matea ake, me ō rātou ngākau nuitanga ake.

3 Te Whakatau a te Whānau ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga

I te wā o te aromātai, i whakamātauhia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā pūnaha o te kōhanga reo ki te whakahaere i ngā āhuatanga i raro iho nei e whai pānga nui ana ki te waiora o ngā tamariki:

• te haumaru whatumanawa (tāpiri atu ko te ārahi mauritau, ko te ārai tamariki)
• te haumaru ā-tinana (tāpiri atu ko te mātakitaki tamariki; ko ngā whakaritenga whakamoe; ko ngā aituā; ko te whāngai rongoā; ko ngā whakaritenga akuaku; ko ngā kaupapa here me ngā tikanga haerenga whakawaho)
• te tū tika o ngā kaimahi (tae atu ki ngā taumata tohu mātauranga; te arowhai a ngā pirihimana; ngā rēhitatanga kaiako; me te tatauranga ki waenga i te kaiako me te tamaiti)
• ngā whakaritenga, tikanga hōneatanga e pā ana ki te ahi me te rū whenua.

Ko te tikanga, ka whakatairanga ngā kōhanga reo katoa i te hauora me te haumaru o ngā tamariki, me te arotake anō hoki i ia te wā i tā rātou whakatutukitanga i ngā herenga ā-ture. Kīhai i tāutuhia ai ētahi take e whai pānga ana ki ngā herenga ā-ture.

Hei ā hea Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga aromātai anō ai i te kōhanga reo?

Ka aromātai anō Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirirākau i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Kaiurungi Whakaturuki Arotake Māori

26 Pipiri, 2018

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirirākau is in Te Puna, Tauranga. It is situated next to kaumātua flats, the hapū hauora services and is in walking distance of the local school, church and marae. Whānau are all connected to the four marae of Ngāti Pirirākau.

2 The Evaluation Findings

How well do children show their understanding of Pirirākautanga?

Children know they are from Pirirākau and who their extended whānau are.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children are nurtured in an environment that is loving and caring. Kaimahi and whānau model respectful relationships. Children interact confidently and safely with one another and with adults. They confidently take leadership roles during karakia and waiata. Whānau create opportunities for children to interact regularly with kaumātua. The older children are active as tuakana to their teina. Babies are integrated into routines with the support of others. Whānau consistently provide aroha, manaaki and āwhina. Children are immersed in whanaungatanga. Children are settled and happy.

Children’s sense of belonging is a major focus of the programme. The whānau implement a programme based on knowledge that is relevant to Pirirākau. Children learn karakia and hīmene about their hapū. Kaimahi support younger children to stand and recite their pepeha, while the older children are confident to recite this with little or no support. They sing waiata that reinforce their links to the local stories. The outdoor environment displays the names of local icons and tūpuna. They regularly visit and interact with local places of significance to Ngāti Pirirākau. They know where everybody lives and how they are related to them. Children know where they come from.

Children learn in an environment where the nuances of te reo Māori used within Pirirākau is prioritised. Babies are familiar with instructions or questions in te reo Māori through their body language and facial expressions. Whānau consciously introduce words and language specific to their hapū. Waiata are skilfully used to reinforce learning and routines. Children know basic words and respond appropriately. Kaimahi encourage children to mimic correct sentence structure. Children are developing an understanding of te reo o Pirirākau.

Children confidently explore the indoor and outdoor environments of the kōhanga reo. Whānau provide a wide variety of playground equipment that encourages exploration and imaginative play. Babies crawl freely and explore. They happily experiment with poi, musical instruments and other equipment. Children interact with the natural and physical environment of Pirirākau. Whānau ensure that the domains of atua Māori are linked to children’s learning and experiences. They support children to transfer this learning to the environment

of Pirirākau. Regular opportunities are provided for children to interact with the local and wider community. Children are confident learners.

Planning and Evaluation

The whānau manage kōhanga reo operations well. Strategic and annual plans guide the whānau. Personnel, finances and health and safety matters are attended to and monitored. They meet regularly to discuss kōhanga reo operations and any changes that may be required. Whānau have identified their priorities for the future. They have systems in place to support the sustainability of the kōhanga reo. These include ensuring kaimahi are gaining qualifications and improving outcomes for children. The whānau work together in the interests of their children.

Children’s assessment and programme evaluation is well managed. The whānau is encouraged to contribute to the design of the learning programme. There is a commitment to improvement and ensuring children’s learning needs are met. Children’s learning and progress is recorded in individual profiles. Photos are annotated, and show the child’s voice and links to Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira. These are shared regularly with whānau. Programme evaluation is regular. Kaimahi meet to discuss how the children are progressing and what is working well. They record the effectiveness of their practice and how it could be improved. Kaimahi are responsive to whānau and children’s needs. Children’s learning needs are met.

Key Next Steps

It is time for kaimahi to review their processes for programme planning. Planning requires strengthening to ensure it meets the learning needs of all children. It should also identify what strategies are required to extend children’s thinking in learning experiences and through te reo Māori. Children benefit when planning extends on their individual needs and interests.

3 Whānau Management Assurance on Compliance Areas

During the evaluation, ERO looked at the kōhanga reo systems for managing the following areas that have a potentially high impact on children's wellbeing:

• emotional safety (including positive guidance and child protection)
• physical safety (including supervision; sleep procedures; accidents; medication; hygiene; excursion policies and procedures)
• suitable staffing (including qualification levels; police vetting; teacher registration; ratios)
• evacuation procedures and practices for fire and earthquake.

All kōhanga reo are required to promote children's health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements. There were no issues of non-compliance identified.

When is ERO likely to evaluate the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO evaluation of Te Kōhanga Reo o Pirirākau will be in three years.

Lynda Pura-Watson

Deputy Chief Review Officer Māori

26 June 2018

Information about the Kōhanga Reo