KŌ WAI MĀTOU ?
The Tauira of Te Matai: Te Kura a Iwi o Tapuika form the absolute centre of focus for all Kura activities and endeavours. They will be nourished with knowledge delivered through a Tapuika curriculum which fuses traditional values with modern teaching practice in order to guide them in their everyday lives.
Nga Poutokomanawa
It is a curriculum which is based upon the five traditional pillars of Tapuika learning:
Whakapapa: Genealogy.
Korero Tawhito: History.
Waiata me Ngā Haka: Traditional song and performance.
Whakatauki: Tapuika proverbs, maxims and anecdotes.
Karakia: Connection to the heavenly origins of Tapuika.
The Tauira will grow strong in the knowledge that it is with their own kupu, their own mita, their own korero, their own waiata mōteatea, their own identity that will sustain them on their educational journeys.
They will then be able to use the knowledge they gain to competently participate in their Maori world as well as the Global environment.
Tapuikatanga
The history and identity of Te Matai:Te Kura-ā-Iwi ō Tapuika is grounded in the pursuit of a robust and well rounded Education as was the wish of the founding Tapuika kuia and koeke. This Education is now embedded in Tapuikatanga where the Tapuika identity will be articulated and reflected in the Kura’s environment, planning and daily programmes. Tapuika values will be instilled and nurtured in each and every Tauira so that they become proud of who they are and where they come from.
Te Whakakitenga me ōna Mātāpono - Vision and Values
VISION
“To provide quality education that enables our Tamariki to stand confidently in the ever changing world”
U MAIA - Values
Five Tapuika Taniwhā/Kaitiaki (Te Mapu, Pareawheawhe, Tamitami, Porohinaki and Taipo) represent Ngā ūmaia to develop the skills required for our tamariki to enable them to participate and add value to the affairs of whānau, hapū, iwi and the wider community and the global economy.
These Ūmaia include:
Tū Rangatira Ai (Pride) - Te ihi, te wehi, te wana. Taku Rangatiratanga.
Manaakitanga (Respect) - Manaaki tangata. Manuhiri mai, pākeke mai, kōeke mai, kuia mai.
Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship) - Tiaki te Kura, tiaki ngā taonga i whakarerea iho, tiaki te mana o to Iwi.
Whakapono (Honesty) - Ko te tika me te pono te hanga pai mo te tangata.
Whānaungatanga (Relationships) - Whānaungatanga, tētahi ki tētahi.
A Mātou Hītori - Our History
Te Takapu o Tapuika
The takapu represents the traditional rohe (tribal estate) of Tapuika which extends from the Wairakei stream as it enters the sea at Papamoa, south-east to the Waihi estuary and up the Kaikokopu or Pokopoko stream heading inland to Te Hiapo, west to the Haruru or Pueto stream and then on to Otanewainuku and then to Opoutihi before turning north-west to Te Rae-o-Papamoa. From here the boundary extends to Otara maunga and then heads out towards Papamoa and back to the point of origin at Wairakei.
From the time of the arrival of the Te Arawa waka down to the present day, the uri of Tapuika have occupied and maintained mana whenua over this area referred to as ‘Te Takapu o Tapuika’. This is their birthright.
It is with this absolute knowledge that the Tauira of Te Matai: Te Kura a Iwi o Tapuika will be embraced in as they grow and learn in their Kura. In much the same way as the ‘Takapu’ represents the tribal estate of Tapuika, the Kura itself with its vast playground areas represents the Educational estate where Tauira can be nurtured and taught, safe in the knowledge, that where they stand and learn is theirs as of right.
Te Matai: Te Kura a Iwi o Tapuika is their rohe where they can play and grow into strong and confident citizens grounded in Tapuika values.
Te Whakatauki
He kakano whakaaro
Ka tupu he rakau korerorero
Nga hua ko nga pukenga
o Te Matai puna matauranga
Tihei Mauri Ora
Take a seed, and germinate it (an idea)
And from it will rise a tree
The fruit of the tree is the skills and expertise of
Te Matai’s learning journey.
This whakatauki was given to the kura by Koeke o Tapuika
Te Tōhu – Our Logo
Our logo was desinged by a whanau member. She incorporated our kaitiaki and umaia into our logo along with the Matai tree and our awa - Kaituna. The poutama patterns represent the progressions that our tamariki go through throughout their journey in life.
