Kupu whakataki
Introduction
The Kōhanga Reo movement has been hailed as one of the most exciting and powerful national initiatives undertaken by Māori people. Its success is due to belief in the Kaupapa, the unconditional commitment required of the people and the knowledge that 'the child shall lead the way'. The Kōhanga Reo philosophy is a Māori world view and the movement's goal is to revitalise and increase the use of the Māori language and traditional Māori beliefs and customary practices with all who embrace it.
Te Kōhanga Reo has flourished based on the understanding that all members of the whānau are significant and valuable in the lives of mokopuna. Parents, grandparents, extended whānau, hapū and iwi working together, provide the best possible environment for our mokopuna and whānau, and ensure the survival of te reo me ōna tikanga Māori. They provide a caring, joyful and secure environment where mokopuna learn their language and values. This results in mokopuna and whānau who are confident and proud.
Key outcomes of Kōhanga Reo, described in the Government Review 1988 are:
Mokopuna learn the Māori language and culture, including the spiritual dimension through immersion
Language and cultural learning is fostered and supported for all members of the whānau
Whānau learn a range of other skills (for example, administration) within the whānau setting
Collective responsibility for the administration and operations of the Kōhanga Reo is fostered through whānau development
Whānau feel the sense of being accepted and belonging which is crucial for their empowerment
The content, context, and control of learning is Māori
Many years later, Te Kōhanga Reo has proven to be a successful foundation for mokopuna in preparation for a Māori-medium education pathway and for living life as Māori. Our mokopuna graduates are among the most successful Māori university graduates Aotearoa, New Zealand has produced.
You can find out more about our Kōhanga Reo story on our Te Orokohanganga | History page.
How did our people start Kōhanga Reo? They had determination, commitment and a strong desire to have their mokopuna learn te reo Māori in a Māori environment.
The continual growth of our movement is important. If you are keen to start a Kōhanga Reo and there are other whānau with the same desire, then kōrero about these dreams with us and make them a reality.
How to get started
When a group of whānau are interested in setting up a new Kōhanga Reo, the first step is to contact the local Kōhanga Reo Tari ā-Rohe | District Office. See our Whakapā Mai | Contact Us page.
Given that resources, both buildings, and people with te reo Māori fluency, are scarce, we will look at whether vacancies in other Kōhanga Reo in the area can be filled first. In some cases, there may be a good reason why a new Kōhanga Reo should be established even though other Kōhanga Reo are not full, eg geographical reasons, many Māori mokopuna in the area not attending any Kōhanga Reo.
Wānanga amongst whānau is important in the initial stages of setting up a Kōhanga Reo. These will support whānau towards Tūtohinga | Chartering stage.
Te Whānau me ngā kaumātua
Te Hā o te Tipuna
Te Kaupapa Whakahaere a ngā mātua
Ngā mahi a ngā rangatahi hei āwhina
Te hapai i te tipu o te reo me te katoa o te mokopuna, ara, te whatumanawa, te hinengaro, te tinana, me te wairua
Te oranga pūmau o te whānau
Ko ngā tikanga a Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo ki te tipuranga o te mokopuna
Anga whakamua kia pai ai te mārama ki te reo ā-tuhi
Te Paerangatiratanga me ngā pitopito kōrero
Te Kōhanga Reo, Purapura
Te Kōhanga Reo – Kei te ahu tātou ki hea ināianei
Tari ā-Rohe | District Offices are responsible for ensuring whānau are fully supported throughout the preliminary establishment and operational phases for Kōhanga Reo. They are also responsible for ensuring information is provided to the relevant areas. They have the necessary tools and resources to fully support the new Kōhanga Reo whānau. This includes guiding and facilitating alongside whānau, through the different phases.
When contacting a Tari ā-Rohe, these are some of the information and questions you should have prepared:
How many whānau are interested in setting up a Kōhanga Reo?
How many tamariki / mokopuna do you have?
Do you have Kaumātua support? Their involvement is vital
Mokopuna Register – include names, addresses, dates of birth, parent/guardian names and signatures
Kaumātua Support Register – include names of supporting kaumātua, fluent speakers and other extended whānau who are supporting the Kōhanga Reo
Contact Person Details – include name, address and phone number of the contact person representing the whānau
Letter of Interest – a formal letter of interest in establishing a Kōhanga Reo to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board
Purapura Support Letter – a letter of support from the local purapura is recommended
Purapura is a forum for all Kōhanga Reo whānau within to affirm whānaungatanga and strengthen Te Kaupapa o Te Kōhanga Reo. Each Purapura is made up of a collective of Kōhanga Reo that are within close proximity, who meet to share ideas, strengths, and expertise.
Purapura consultation is key when identifying the needs for new Kōhanga Reo. They understand the establishment requirements and can contribute their operational experiences to support and work alongside the new whānau.
We encourage new whānau to attend your local Purapura hui and let them know of your intentions.
Other reasons for attending the Purapura:
To determine whether there is a genuine need for establishing a new Kōhanga Reo in that area
To see if there is a Kōhanga Reo in the Purapura that can help you set up
To prepare for the hui, it is recommended that you attend with your kaumātua and new whānau, and take along the following information:
Numbers of mokopuna
Fluency levels of Te Reo within the whānau
An idea of where you will be situated in the community (building)
Any questions you have about the Kaupapa
Once you have the support of the Purapura, keep in touch with them and ask if they would provide a letter of support for you during the Tūtohinga | Chartering stage.
Tutōhinga | Chartering stage
“Kia whēnua taurikura, kia whēnua houkura”
“Papatuānuku has prepared a place for you to grow and develop and prosper in her world”
You will move to this stage when a genuine need to set up a Kōhanga Reo has been identified and you have the support of the Purapura and local Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Tari ā-Rohe. Whānau should now develop an Action Plan that helps them become chartered through Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board.
The whānau should organise a whānau hui to identify what needs to be done to become Chartered. Some of the key people to invite to this hui (other than the whānau) are Kaumātua and the Tari ā-Rohe Kaupapa Kaimahi. You may also want to ask the Purapura to attend. Don’t forget to advise everyone of the date, time, venue and purpose of the hui.
Before you start, you may wish to appoint an interim Chairperson and Secretary for the hui. Once these people have been appointed, you should set the agenda.
Some areas you may want to cover in the agenda are:
Development of the Action Plan – what is to be done, by who, by what date, and comments
Whare for new Kōhanga Reo (Tari ā-Rohe can advise)
Can informal sessions be organised for the tamariki/mokopuna?
Are there Kaiako, Kaiāwhina, Whānau available to help?
Who are the people who will develop the Tūtohinga (Charter)? (refer to the checklist)
What establishment information and resources are readily available? (Tari ā-Rohe can advise)
When do we need to elect a Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer? (need to be in place before being chartered)
When do we need to open a bank account? (need to be in place before chartered)
When do we need signatories to the bank account? (need to be in place before chartered)
Communication and documentation are key. Keep everyone regularly informed and share copies of the minutes, attendance registers and the plan of action that has been developed.
The entire whānau must be involved with the development of the Tūtohinga. This document is an evolving document and will be added to or amended through the years by each practising Te Kōhanga Reo whānau.
Te Korowai will be a guiding source of information for whānau. Te Korowai articulates the principles, policies, goals and practices from the supporting documents based on Te Peka Matua (1990), Ngā tirotirohanga a te Whānau Wānanga (1982/1983), Ngā Mahi a Whānau Wānanga (Blue Book Syllabus 1984) and Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo.
Te Korowai was compiled by Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust solely to assist Te Kōhanga Reo whānau, hapū, iwi, and those who embrace Te Kaupapa o Te Kōhanga Reo.
Key sections in Te Korowai include:
Ngā Mātāpono, Ngā Matatika me ngā Here ki te Tiriti o Waitangi
Ngā Pou Matua o Te Kōhanga Reo
Ngā Whainga Motuhake
Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo (Revised 2017)
Te Orokohanganga mai o Te Korowai (1995)
Te Tūtohinga Whakatau (1995)
Establishing Kōhanga Reo (Revised 2020)
Tūtohinga Checklist (Revised 2007)
Te Tauria o Te Whare o Te Kōhanga Reo (2006)
Te Whakauru Whānau Hou (2006)
Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo – He Whakamārama (2007)
Te Ara Tūāpae (2008 – 2033)
Te Wānanga Tuatahi o Te Kōhanga Reo (1982)
Te Kōhanga Reo Trust Certificate Syllabus (1983)
All About Purapura (2001)
Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Training (2021)
Pātaka Kupu
Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Contact Information
Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Waiata Anthems
Your local Tari ā-Rohe Kaupapa Kaimahi and / or Purapura can help your whānau work through the checklist.
When you have collated all the relevant information required for your Tūtohinga and presented it in either electronic form or other relevant to the whānau, the Tūtohinga and Checklist should be ticked off and signed by the Chairperson at a whānau hui. It then needs to be presented for sign off along with an accompanying letter from the whānau, to the local Tari ā-Rohe.
The Tari ā-Rohe will send the signed Checklist, the Tūtohinga and whānau letter of interest to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust to be presented for approval to the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust Board at its next scheduled meeting.
The issuing of a new Te Kōhanga Reo unique ID number and Tūtohinga Tohu (Certificate) signed by the Patron and Chairman of the Board, means the Kōhanga Reo is officially chartered to the Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust. Please maintain your Tūtohinga well for your mokopuna, as valuable taonga for the history of your whānau, hapū, and iwi.
All Kōhanga Reo are currently chartered to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust and licensed by the Ministry of Education under the Education (Early Learning Services) Regulations 2008.
Guidance for Kōhanga Reo licensing criteria is available from the Tari ā-Rohe.