Te Kōhanga Reo ki Pukeroa Ōruawhata

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. Ka whakarato ngā pūrongo a Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i ngā mōhiohio mātuatua mā ngā whānau, ngā hapū, me ngā iwi. 

2 Te Horopaki 

Ko te ihu kei Maketū
Takoto rawa atu te kei
Ki te pūtake o Tongariro
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Ngongotahā te maunga
Ko te Motu-Tapu-ā-Tinirau te moutere
Ko Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe te roto
Ko Pukeroa Ōruawhata te Kōhanga Reo

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo ki Pukeroa Ōruawhata ki te taha o te kura tuatahi o Rotorua, ki te pokapū o Rotorua. He nui ngā wā ka whai wāhi atu ngā mokopuna ki ngā kaikōrero rangatira o te reo Māori, tae atu hoki ki tō rātou kuia ka kaha tautoko i a rātou. Ka aro matua te whānau ki te reo Māori, ki ngā tikanga Māori, me te mātauranga Māori, hei āta whakatau i te noho rite o ngā mokopuna ki te kaha whakawhiti atu ki te kura kaupapa Māori. 

3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te whakapuaki mai a ngā mokopuna i tō rātou māramatanga ki te tāmokotanga o ngā tīpuna? 

Ka kitea ki ngā mokopuna tō rātou māramatanga ki ētahi tūāhuatanga o te tāmokotanga o ngā mātua tīpuna.

4 Ngā Whakaaturanga

E rumakina ana ngā mokopuna ki tētahi taiao hihiri e poipoi ana i a rātou, ā, kua whakatōngia ki ngā uara matua o te mātauranga Māori. E arahina ana rātou e ngā mātauranga o tō rātou kuia me ngā kaimahi e whakapūmau ana, e whakapuaki ana hoki i ō rātou mōhiotanga ki ngā tikanga tuku iho me te ahurea. Ka tū tahi ngā tama ki te whai wāhi atu ki ētahi wāhanga o ngā tikanga whaikōrero. Mā aua kaupapa, ka ako ngā mokopuna i tō rātou tū hei tangata whenua, me ngā tikanga, ngā kawa hoki o te marae. Ka whakamanahia te reo Māori, ā, ka āta tuituia puta noa i ngā whakaritenga o ia rā. Ka rongo ngā mokopuna i ngā kaikōrero tūturu, kounga hoki o te reo Māori, pērā i tō rātou kuia e whakatauira ana i te matatau ki te reo Māori. Ka whakamahi ngā kaimahi i ngā rautaki whai hua e akiaki ana i ngā mokopuna ki te tūhura i te reo, ki te whakatika i a rātou anō, me te whakatairanga ake i ngā pūkenga whakawhitiwhiti whakaaro. Ka whai wāhi ki aua tūāhuatanga, ko ngā tauparapara, ngā rotarota, te kīpeha me ngā whakatītina. Kei te tākare te whai wāhi atu a ngā tuākana ki ngā karakia, ngā hīmene, ngā waiata, me ngā mihi ki te tangata, ā, ko tā ngā tēina, he whakapuaki tākare i tō rātou māramatanga, mā te tāwhai, mā ngā tohu ā-ringa, ā-tinana hoki, me te neke o ngā kanohi. Ko aua tino whai wāhitanga, ka whakanui i te motuhake o ia mokopuna, ā, ka akiaki i tā rātou whai wāhi kia mātātoa, kia whai pūtake. Ka toro atu ki ngā waiata me ngā mōteatea o te takiwā hei whakapuaki i ngā kōrero tuku iho a te hapū me te iwi. Ka kitea ki ngā mokopuna tō rātou ngākau titikaha, ā, ka ngākau nui rātou ki te ako ki te taha o ētahi atu. 

Ka tautāwhitia ngā mokopuna ki te manaakitanga me te atawhai o tō rātou kuia, o ō rātou kaimahi, o ō rātou whānau, o ētahi atu hoki. Ko ngā mātāpono me ngā tino ariā o te tauwhirotanga , te mākohakoha, me te aumārire, ka whai wāhi matua ki ngā taunekeneke katoa. Ka āwhina ngā tuākana i ō rātou tēina, ā, ka whakatauira i ngā uara o te rangimārie, te māiatanga, me te ngākau hūmārie. Ka ngākau nui ngā mokopuna ki te tūhura i tō rātou taiao me te noho pākiki ki te tangongitanga o ngā momo rauemi, ā, ka whai wāhi tākare atu ki ngā taumahi whakangahau, taumahi pārekareka hoki. Kua āta whakatōngia ngā mahinga o ia rā, ka āta whakatau i te riterite me te taunga o te rā, ā, e hāpai ana i ngā whai wāhitanga mō ngā mokopuna ki te whakapuaki, te whakamārama, me te whakanui i ō rātou wheako ako. He auaha te whakatakotoranga o ngā wāhi ako, hei kōkiri i te ako ā-rōpū me te ako takitahi, ā, ka whakatairanga hoki i ngā whai wāhitanga maha mō ngā mokopuna ki te tūhonohono ki tō rātou wāhi. Kei te mārie ngā mokopuna, kei te mauritau hoki rātou ki tētahi taiao e poipoi ana i tō rātou waiora, e whakaū ana i te tuakiri ā-ahurea, ā, e āta tuitui ana i te aronga toi whenuatanga ki te ao Māori. 

Ka mahi ngātahi ngā kaimahi ki te whakamahere i te hōtaka akoranga me te aroturuki i te ako a ngā mokopuna. He kaha te aronga ngātahi ki te whakawhanake i tētahi hōtaka akoranga e poipoi ana i te māramatanga o ngā mokopuna ki ngā atua Māori me ngā tikanga Māori mā te reo Māori. E whai kiko ana ngā mahere, ā, he pai hoki te whakaritenga. Ka kapohia te ahu whakamua me te ako a ngā mokopuna ki ngā Mātai Mokopuna me ngā Kōnae Mokopuna, ā, kua whakatakotohia hoki o roto te kiko o ngā mōhiohio e pā ana ki ō rātou ake huarahi ako. Whakapuakihia ai e ngā kaimahi i ia te wā te ako a ngā mokopuna, tō rātou whakawhanaketanga anō hoki ki te taha o ngā whānau. E whiwhi ana ngā mokopuna i tētahi hōtaka akoranga i āta whakaarohia ai, ā, e whakatairanga ana i ngā mātauranga Māori me ngā uara Māori tuku iho. 

Kua whakatinanahia e te whānau ngā tukanga whai hua i āta whai hanganga ai, hei whakahaere i ngā whakaritenga ki te kōhanga reo. Ko te noho tahi mai o ngā kuia tētahi tūāhuatanga motuhake o te kōhanga reo nei. Kei te tūtohinga ngā hītori o te kōhanga reo, mai i tōna tīmatanga. He aronga nahanaha kua whakatakotohia ki taua tuhinga, ā, kua pou herea ki ngā mātāpono o Te Korowai. I ngā wā katoa he kaha te taetae mai ki ngā hui ā-whānau, he mārama ngā mōhiohio e whakapuakihia ana ki waenga i ngā mema katoa o te whānau. E hāpai ana te mahere ā-tau i te whānau ki te aroturuki me te pūrongo i ngā mahi whakahaere matua i te tari me te kōhanga reo. Ko ngā kaupapa here me ngā tukanga mō te hauora me te haumaru, e hāngai ana ki ngā herenga ā-ture e tika ana, ā, ka aro pū ki te waiora o ngā mokopuna. Hei whakaū i te kaha o te noho rite, ka whakahaerehia, ka tuhia hoki ngā akoako auau e pā ana ki te rū whenua, te ahi, me te aukatinga. Ka whai hua ngā mokopuna nā ngā tukanga kia whakatau ngātahi te whānau, ā, he tūāhuatanga tēnei e whakatairanga ana i tō rātou atawhai me ngā tūāpapa ā-ahurea. 

Kei te matawhānui te mahere rautaki, ā, ka whakamōhiotia ki Te Ara Tūāpae. Ka whai wāhi ki ngā whāinga pae tawhiti, ko ngā wawata ngātahi o ngā whānau mō ngā mokopuna. Kei te auaha te mahere, ā, ka hāngai pū ki te poipoi i ngā whakatutukitanga, ki te whakatupu i te ārahitanga, me te whakatō i te reo Māori me ngā uara hoki o te ao Māori. Ko aua kaupapa matua me aua whāinga, e āta whakatau ana i te toitūtanga mō meāke nei. He pai te whakahaeretanga o ngā take kaimahi, ā, kei ngā tuhinga kaimahi ngā kirimina mahi a ia kaimahi, ngā tuhinga tūranga mahi, me ngā tuhinga e arowhai ana i te haumaru o ngā kaimahi. Tāpiri atu ki tēnā, ka arotahi ngā arohaehae ki te whakawhanake i ngā mōhiotanga me ngā pūkenga o ngā kaimahi, hei hāpai i a rātou ki te tū hei kaiako whai hua. Ka whakatairangatia te ako a ngā mokopuna, tō rātou waiora whānui tonu hoki, mā ngā mahi whakahaere ngātahi a te whānau. 

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake

Me whakapiki ake i ngā mōhiotanga o te whānau me ngā kaimahi ki te Children's Act 2014. Ahakoa he kaupapa here pakari i whakatakotohia ai mō te ārai tamariki, e mōhio ana rātou e tika ana kia hakune ā rātou mahi ki te whakatairanga ake i tō rātou mōhiotanga me tō rātou māramatanga ki ngā tukanga. E takune ana te whānau me ngā kaimahi ki te whai wāhi atu ki ētahi atu wānanga me ētahi atu whakangungu, kia mōhio ai, kia mārama ai rātou ki ā rātou kawenga e whakatutuki ai i ngā takohanga o te ture. E whakatau ana hoki Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga i taua aronga, ā, e tautoko ana i te aronga pū ki te haumaru me te waiora o ngā mokopuna. 

Me whakapakari i te aromātai hōtaka. Ahakoa ka whakaaro huritao ngā kaimahi i ia te wā, ahakoa ka whakawhiti kōrero hoki mō ā rātou whakaritenga e whakatinana ai i ngā whakarerekētanga papai me te whakapaitanga ake o ngā putanga ki ngā mokopuna, he mea nui kia whakaōkawa, kia tuhi hoki i aua whakaaro huritao hei āta whakatau i te aronga nahanaha ki te whakapaitanga ake. Ka whai hua ngā mokopuna nā te whakatairanga tonutanga o ngā whakaritenga a ngā kaimahi i ia te wā. 

5 Te Whakatau a te Whānau o te Kōhanga Reo ki ngā Wāhanga Tautukunga

I te wā o te arotake, i tirohia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ngā pūnaha a te kōhanga reo ki te whakahaere i ngā wāhanga e whai pānga nui ai ki te waiora o ngā tamariki, 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; ngā mahi akuaku, 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, ngā rēhita a ngā kaiako, me te tatauranga ki waenga i te kaimahi me ngā tamariki
• ngā whakaritenga ohotata me ngā tikanga ohotata e pā ana ki te rū whenua, te ahi, te waipuke, te tai āniwhaniwha, me te urutā. 

Ko te tikanga, ka whakatairanga ngā kōhanga reo katoa i te hauora me te haumaru o ngā tamariki, ā, ka arotake i ia te wā i tā rātou whakatutukitanga i ngā herenga ā-ture. 

6 Te Taunakitanga

I whakawhanakehia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me te whānau o te kōhanga reo ngā taunakitanga e whai ake nei, arā, kia 

• whakaōkawa tonu i te aromātai hōtaka
• whakapiki ake i te mōhiotanga o ngā whānau me ngā kaimahi ki te Children's Act 2014.

Tiwana Hibbs
Toka ā Nuku 
Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services

7 Huitanguru 2025

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. The ERO reports provide important information for whānau, hapū and iwi.

2 Context 

Ko te ihu kei Maketū
Takoto rawa atu te kei
Ki te pūtake o Tongariro
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Ngongotaha te maunga
Ko te Motu-Tapu-ā-Tinirau te moutere
Ko Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe te roto
Ko Pukeroa Ōruawhata te Kōhanga Reo

Te Kōhanga Reo ki Pukeroa Ōruawhata is situated next to Rotorua Primary school in central Rotorua. Mokopuna frequently engage with respected te reo Māori speakers, including their kuia who offers invaluable support. Whānau prioritise te reo Māori, tikanga Māori, and mātauranga Maori ensuring mokopuna are prepared for a successful transition to kura kaupapa Māori.

3 Evaluation Focus

How well do mokopuna express their understanding of te tāmokotanga o ngā tīpuna?

Mokopuna demonstrate an understanding of some aspects of te tāmokotanga o ngā mātua tīpuna. 

4 Findings 

Mokopuna are immersed in a vibrant and nurturing environment that is grounded in the core values of mātauranga Māori. They are guided by the wisdom of their kuia and kaimahi who uphold and share their knowledge of traditions and cultural practices. Taitamatāne stand alongside their peers as they confidently participate in aspects of whaikōrero. Through these practices, mokopuna learn about their role as tangata whenua and tikanga and kawa of the marae. Te reo Māori is highly valued and seamlessly woven throughout everyday practice. Mokopuna are exposed to quality authentic speakers such as their kuia who models proficiency in te reo Māori. Kaimahi use effective strategies to encourage mokopuna to explore language, self-correct and enhance expressive communication skills. These include tauparapara, rotarota, kīpeha and whakatītina. Tuākana enthusiastically engage in karakia, himene, waiata and mihi ki te tangata while their tēina eagerly convey their understanding through mimicking, hand actions, eye movement and body gestures. These intentional opportunities celebrate the uniqueness of each mokopuna encouraging their active involvement and meaningful contribution. Local waiata and mōteatea are used to incorporate the historical narratives of the hapū and iwi. Mokopuna display confidence and enjoy learning alongside others.

Mokopuna are surrounded by the affectionate care from their kuia, kaimahi, whānau and others. The principles and valuable concepts of tauwhirotānga, mākohakoha and aumārire are integral to all interactions. Tuākana assist their tēina and model values of rangimārie, māiatanga and ngākau hūmārie.  Mokopuna enjoy exploring their taiao and being curious with a variety of different resources, eagerly participating in fun and enjoyable activities. The daily routine is firmly established, ensuring consistency and predictability and offers opportunities for mokopuna to express, interpret and celebrate their learning experiences. The learning spaces are creatively organised to facilitate both group and individual learning and promotes frequent opportunities for mokopuna to make connections to their surroundings. Mokopuna are calm, and settled in an environment that fosters their wellbeing, preserves cultural identity, and seamlessly integrates a sense of belonging in te ao Māori.

Kaimahi work together to plan the learning programme and monitor mokopuna learning. There is a strong collaborative approach to develop a learning programme that nurtures mokopuna understanding of atua Māori and tikanga Māori through te reo Māori. Planning is detailed and well organised. Mokopuna progress and learning is captured in Matai Mokopuna and Kōnae Mokopuna that includes detailed information about their individual learning journeys. Kaimahi regularly share mokopuna learning and development to whānau. Mokopuna experience a well-considered learning programme that promotes traditional Maori knowledge and values.

Whānau have implemented efficient and well-structured processes to manage the kōhanga reo operations. The presence of kuia is a distinctive attribute to the kōhanga reo. The Tūtohinga includes the history of the kōhanga reo since its inception. This document sets out a planned approach underpinned by the principles of Te Korowai. Whānau hui are consistently well attended, with transparent information shared among all whānau members. An annual plan assists whānau to monitor and report across key administrative and operational tasks. Health and safety policies and procedures are aligned to relevant legislation and prioritise mokopuna wellbeing. To maintain high levels of preparedness, regular drills for earthquake, fire and lockdown are conducted and documented. Mokopuna benefit from collective whānau decision making processes that strengthen their care and cultural foundations. 

The strategic plan is comprehensive and informed by Te Ara Tūāpae. Long term goals include the collective aspirations of whānau for mokopuna. The plan is innovative and dedicated to nurturing achievement, growing leadership, and embedding te  reo Māori and te ao Māori values. These priorities and goals ensure sustainability for the future. Personnel matters are well managed with employment documentation including individual employment agreements, position descriptions and completed kaimahi safety checks. Additionally, appraisals focus on developing kaimahi knowledge and skills to support them in becoming effective kaiako. Mokopuna learning and overall wellbeing are promoted through collective whānau whakahaere practices. 

Key Next Steps

Whānau and kaimahi awareness of the Children’s Act 2014 needs to be increased. While there is a robust Child Protection Policy in place, they acknowledge the need to be intentional in their ongoing efforts to enhance awareness and understanding of the procedures. The whānau and kaimahi intend to engage in further wānanga and training to better understand their commitment in fulfilling the obligations of the act. ERO agrees with this and acknowledges the emphasis on prioritising mokopuna safety and wellbeing.

Programme evaluation requires strengthening. Although kaimahi regularly reflect on and discuss their practices to implement positive changes and improve mokopuna outcomes, it is essential to formalise and document these reflections to ensure a systematic approach toward improvement.  Mokopuna benefit from ongoing improved kaimahi practices. 

5 Kōhanga Whānau Assurance on Legal Requirements

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, excursion policy and procedures
• suitable staffing including appropriate qualifications, police vetting, ratios
• emergency procedures and practices for earthquakes, fire, flood, tsunami, and pandemic.

All kōhanga reo are required to promote children’s health and safety and to regularly review their compliance with legal requirements.

6 Recommendation

ERO and the kōhanga reo whānau developed the following recommendations:

• continue to formalise programme evaluation
• increase whānau and kaimahi awareness of the Children's Act 2014. 

Tiwana Hibbs 
Toka ā Nuku - Director
Te Uepū ā-Motu – Māori Review Services

7 February 2025

7 Information about the kōhanga reo