Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Mōkai-a-Koko

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 Ngā Mōkai-a-Koko ki te pā o Te Whakarewarewa, ki Rotorua. Ko ngā tamariki o te kōhanga reo nei, he uri o Tūhourangi, o Ngāti Wāhiao. Ko te kōhanga reo kei te pūmanawa o te ao o te pā, ā, he kaupapa e ngākau nuitia ana e ngā tūruhi ka tae atu ki Te Whakarewarewa.

3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te whakatairanga ake o ngā pūnaha a te whānau i te whai wāhi atu a ngā mokopuna ki ā rātou akoranga?

Ka whai wāhi atu ngā pūnaha me ngā tukanga a te whānau ki te poipoi i te papai o ngā akoranga me ngā putanga ki ngā mokopuna.

4 Mana Whakahaere

Kua whakatakotohia e te whānau ngā pūnaha mō te whakahaeretanga i ngā whakaritenga ki te kōhanga reo. Ka whakahaerehia te nuinga o ngā hui ā-whānau mā te Huitopa. Ka hāpai taua tūāhuatanga i te taetae atu a te whānau ki ngā hui. He matawhānui, he mōhiohio hoki ki ngā meneti o ngā hui. He mārama te pūrongo atu i te nuinga o ngā whakahaeretanga. Ko ngā kaupapa here matua me ngā tukanga matua o te hauora me te haumaru, e hāngai ana ki te wā me ngā herenga ā-ture e tika ana. Ka whakaputaina aua tūāhuatanga i ia te wā mā tā rātou whārangi Pukamata, hei tirohanga, hei kōrerotanga hoki a te whānau. Ka tuhia ngā rēhita e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru, ā, ka pūrongohia ngā take hei āta whakatau i te aronga matua ki te waiora o ngā mokopuna. Ka hāngai ngā wawata me ngā whāinga o te whānau ki te poipoitanga o ngā hononga ki te reo Māori, ki ngā whakapapa, ki te whanaungatanga hoki. Whakapuakihia ai e ngā kaiako i ia te wā ngā taipitopito kōrero mō tēnā e mahia ana, e ākona ana hoki e ngā mokopuna. Ko te waiora o ngā mokopuna, ko tā rātou whai wāhi mātātoa atu ki ngā akoranga, e whakamōhio ana i te whakarite ngātahi a te whānau i ngā whakataunga.

E ata whakaarohia ana, e aroturukitia ana, e tuhia ana hoki te ako a ngā mokopuna. Ka mahi ngātahi ngā kaimahi ki te whakamahere me te aroturuki i te ako a ngā mokopuna, ā, ka aromātai i ia te wā i te kounga o te hōtaka akoranga. E whai kiko ana ngā mahere, ā, ka ārahi i te whakatinanatanga o ngā kaupapa mahi e hono pū ana ki ngā atua Māori me te taiao o te takiwā. Ka whakamahia ko Mātai i te Katoa o te Tamaiti me Te Aho Pounamu, hei whakatakoto haere i te ako a ia mokopuna, me tōna whakawhanaketanga. Whakawhiti kōrero ai ngā kaimahi i ia te wā mō te kounga o te hōtaka akoranga. He whakaritenga pūmau tēnā e whai wāhi atu ana ki ngā whakarerekētanga me te aro nui ki ngā matea o ngā mokopuna. E whai hua ana ngā mokopuna nā te tōpūtanga o ngā whakaritenga a ngā kaimahi.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake 

Kāhore anō kia kitea ētahi o ngā kaupapa e pā ana ki ngā tuhinga kaimahi me te mahere ā-tau. Kua whakatau te whānau me Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, ka noho wātea aua tuhinga hei tirohanga i te taenga atu o 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

E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga, kia whakaratohia e te whānau ngā tuhinga katoa e whai pānga ana ki ngā take kaimahi me te mahere ā-tau, hei tirohanga i te taenga atu o Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga ki te kōhanga reo.  

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

16 Whiringa ā-nuku, 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 reports provides important information for hapū and iwi.

2 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Mōkai-a-Koko is in Te Whakarewarewa Village, Rotorua. The mokopuna of this kōhanga reo are descendants of Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wāhiao. The kōhanga reo is a central part of village life and a tourism attraction of Whakarewarewa. 

3 Evaluation Focus

How well do whānau systems promote mokopuna engagement in their learning?

Whānau systems and processes contribute to fostering positive learning and outcomes for mokopuna.

4 Findings - Mana Whakahaere

Whānau have established systems for managing the kōhanga reo operations. The majority of whānau hui are hosted through the Zoom digital platform. This promotes enhanced whānau attendance. Hui minutes are detailed and informative. There is clear reporting across most operations. Core health and safety policies and procedures are current and align to legislation. These are sent regularly through their Facebook page for input and feedback by whānau. Health and safety registers are documented, and matters are reported to ensure mokopuna wellbeing is prioritised. Whānau aspirations and goals encompass fostering connections to te reo Māori, whakapapa and whanaungatanga. Kaiako regularly share updates of what mokopuna are doing and learning. Mokopuna overall wellness and active engagement in learning informs whanau collective decision making. 

Mokopuna learning is well considered, monitored, and documented. Kaimahi work together to plan, monitor mokopuna learning and regularly evaluate the quality of the learning programme. Planning is detailed and guides the implementation of kaupapa mahi that has clear links to atua Māori and the local taiao. Matai i Te katoa o Te Tamaiti and Te Aho Poutama are used to document the learning and development of individual mokopuna. Kaimahi regularly discuss the quality of the learning programme. This is a consistent practice that informs changes and responds to mokopuna needs. Mokopuna benefit from kaimahi collaborative practices. 

Key Next Steps

Other matters related to personnel documentation and an annual plan are yet to be sighted. Whānau and ERO have agreed that documentation will be available during the onsite visit.

5 Whānau Assurance on Legal Requirement

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 recommends that whānau will make available relevant documentation for personnel matters and annual plan during the onsite visit. 

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

16 October 2023

7 Information about the Kōhanga Reo

1 Te Horopaki

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Mōkai-ā-Koko ki te pā o Te Whakarewarewa, ki Rotorua. He uri ngā tamariki o te kōhanga reo nei nō Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao. Nā te tū o te kōhanga reo ki tētahi hapori e ngākau nuitia ai e te tūruhi, arā, ki Whakarewarewa, ka whai wāhi nui ngā tamariki i ia te wā ki te whānuitanga o ngā tūmomo kaupapa ahurea, kaupapa whakahoahoa hoki i te pā.

2 Ngā Whakaaturanga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te ngākau titikaha o ngā tamariki ki te tū hei uri o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao?

Ka whai wāhi atu ngā tamariki ki ngā akoranga e hāpai ana i ō rātou ngākau titikaha ki te tū hei uri o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Ka ako ngā tamariki i ō rātou tuakiri hei uri o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao. Nā te tū o te kōhanga reo ki te pā o Whakarewarewa, ka whai wāhi atu ngā tamariki ki te katoa o ngā pōhiri me ngā whakangahau mō ngā manuhiri e ahu mai ana i te ao whānui tonu. E mōhio ana ngā tamariki ki tō rātou tupuna whare, me ngā kawa, me ngā tikanga hoki o tō rātou marae. Torotoro atu ai rātou i ia rā, i ia rā ki ngā waiariki, ki te tāheke, ki te awa o Puarenga. Ka whakapuaki ngā kaimahi i ngā kōrero tuku iho me ngā pakiwaitara o te wāhi nei. Kei te mōhio ngā tamariki tuākana ki ngā pouwhenua matua o te hapori nei e whakahuatia ana i ngā kōrero tuku iho. Ka āta whakarite ngā kaimahi, kia āta whai wāhi atu ai ngā tamariki ki ngā whakairo e tū ana, puta noa i te pā. E whanake ana ngā tamariki i tō rātou tino tuakiri hei uri o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

Rongo ai ngā tamariki i te reo Māori e kōrerohia ana, puta noa i te kōhanga reo. Ko ētahi o ngā kaimahi, he ākonga o mua o ngā kura kaupapa Māori, ā, ka ū pūmau ki te kōrero i te reo Māori anake ki ngā tamariki. Kei te mārama ngā tamariki ki tēnā e kōrerohia ana ki a rātou, ā, ka whakautu mā te kupu kotahi, mā ngā kīanga māmā rānei i ngā wā e ākina ana. Ka whakapuaki ngā kaimahi i ngā hanganga reo tika o te reo Māori i te wā ka kōrero kē ngā tamariki i te reo Pākehā. Ka whakamahi ngā kaimahi i ngā rotarota, ngā waiata, me te korikori tinana, hei whakatairanga i te whakamahinga o te reo Māori ki te kōhanga reo. Ka akiaki ngā kaimahi i ngā tamariki tuākana ki te ārahi i ngā karakia me ngā hīmene. E whanake ana ngā ngākau titikaha me ngā pūkenga o ngā tamariki ki te kōrero i te reo Māori ki te kōhanga reo.

Ka whakamanahia ngā tamariki i roto i ā rātou akoranga. Ka akiaki ngā tamariki ki te ringaringa atu, te mihimihi atu hoki ki ngā manuhiri, mai i te mahau o te kōhanga reo. Ko te ao o te pā e whai pānga nui ana ki ngā akoranga e āta whakanuia ana e te whānau me ngā tamariki. He tini ngā tūmomo kaupapa māoriori ki te pā hei tūhuratanga mā ngā tamariki i ia te wā. E wātea ana ki ngā tamariki ngā rawa me ngā taonga māoriori. Ka whakamahia hoki te hangarau matihiko ki te kōhanga reo, mā te whakaratonga o ngā īPapa e hāpai ai i ngā akoranga. He ngākau titikaha ō ngā tamariki ki te ako, ā, he whakahirahira ā rātou tūmomo wheako ako ki te pā o Whakarewarewa.

Te Whakamahere me te Aromātai

Kua whakatakotohia ngā huarahi ki te whakamahere i te hōtaka, te aromatawai, me te aromātai. E hāngai ana ngā mahere ki te ao o te pā me te taiao o ngā tamariki. Kua āta whakaarohia ngā matea matatini o ngā tamariki ki ngā mahere. He ātaahua, he pai hoki te whakatakotoranga o ngā pūkete e whakaratohia ana e ngā kaimahi, ā, e āta whakaatu ana hoki i ngā wheako ako i whakamaheretia ai. E tohu ana ngā mōhiohio aromatawai i tēnā e ākona ana e ngā tamariki, ā, i te āhua anō hoki o tā rātou ahu whakamua. Hui ai ngā kaimahi i ia te wā ki te whakawhitiwhiti whakaaro mō te hōtaka akoranga. Ka whakatakoto te kaiako i tētahi tuhinga pūrongo ki ngā hui ā-whānau. E arotahi ana ngā kaimahi ki te whakarato i te kounga o tētahi hōtaka akoranga e whakamana ana i te tuakiri o ngā tamariki hei uri o Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

He pai te whakahaeretanga o ngā whakaritenga ki te kōhanga reo. Ka mahi ngātahi te whānau ki te taha o te kaiwhakahaere me ngā kaimahi, ki te hāpai i te ako me te atawhai o ngā tamariki ki te kōhanga reo. He pai te whakahaeretanga o te kaiwhakahaere i ngā pūnaha me ngā tukanga ki te kōhanga reo. Arotakengia ai, whakahoungia ai hoki te tūtohinga i ia te wā. E hāngai ana ngā kaupapa here ki Ngā Pou e Whā me ngā herenga ā-ture e tika ana. He mārama te mahere ā-tau hei ārahi i te āta whakatinanatanga o ngā whakahaeretanga, puta noa i ngā wāhanga katoa o te kōhanga reo. Ka āta whakarite ngā kaimahi kia tutuki i a rātou ngā whakaritenga matua e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru, i ngā tamariki e whai wāhi atu ana ki ngā tūmomo kaupapa, huri noa i te pā. He pai te aroturuki me te tuhi haere hoki i ngā akoako me ngā rehita. E hāpai ana ngā mahi whakahaere a te whānau i ngā putanga ako e whai hua ana ki ngā tamariki.

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka Whai Ake

Ko tētahi āhuatanga hei āta whakawhanake ake, ko te whakamahinga a ngā tamariki i te reo Māori kia rere, kia māhorahora hoki. Ahakoa e tū ana te kōhanga reo hei wāhi kia kōrerohia, kia rangona hoki te reo Māori puta noa i te rā, he tokomaha tonu ngā tamariki e kōrero ana i te reo Pākehā ki te kōhanga reo. He mea nui, kia whakatupu anō hoki te whānau i ō rātou ake pūkenga reo kia āhei ai ngā tamariki ki te ako tonu, ki te whakamahi tonu hoki i te reo Māori ki ō rātou ake kāinga.

Me kōkiri tonu, me aroturuki tonu hoki i ngā whakawhanaketanga rautaki. I whakawhanake te whānau i tētahi mahere rautaki e whakaraupapa ana i tā rātou tirohanga me ā rātou whāinga mō te kōhanga reo. I nāianei, me whakawhanake, me whakatinana hoki rātou i tētahi mahere mahi kia tutuki ai ō rātou wawata rautaki. Mā te pūrongo ki ngā hui ā-whānau e hāpai ai i a rātou ki te aru i tā rātou ahu whakamua i roto i te roanga o te wā ki te whakatutuki i ā rātou whāinga.

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.

4 Te Taunakitanga

I whakawhanakehia e Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga me te whānau te taunakitanga e whai ake nei, arā, kia:

• tāutu, kia whakatinana hoki te whānau me ngā kaimahi i ngā mahi matua e whakapakari ai i te whakamahinga a ngā tamariki me ō rātou whānau i te reo Māori, ā, i ā rātou whakaritenga hoki ki te aru i te ahunga whakamua o tā rātou whakatutuki haere i ngā kaupapa rautaki matua i te kōhanga reo.

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 Ngā Mōkai-ā-Koko i roto i te toru o ngā tau.

Charles Rolleston

Toka ā-nuku

27 Haratua, 2019

Ngā kōrero e pā ana ki te kōhanga reo

1 Context

Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Mōkai-ā-Koko is located in the Whakarewarewa Living Village, Rotorua. The children of this kōhanga reo are descendants of Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao. With the kōhanga reo located within the popular tourist attraction of Whakarewarewa, children are a regularly involved in a wide range of cultural and social activities that occur in the village.

2 The Evaluation Findings

How confident are children in their identity as Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao?

Children participate in learning that supports them to be confident in their identity as Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

Ngā Taumata Whakahirahira

Children learn who they are as descendants of Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao. Because the kōhanga reo is located within the village, children participate in all pōhiri and entertainment for visitors from around the world. Children know their tupuna whare and the kawa and tikanga of their marae. They make daily visits to the hot pools, waterfall and Puarenga river. Kaimahi tell stories of local myths and legends. The older children are familiar with the local landmarks identified with the stories. Kaimahi ensure children have as much access as possible to the carvings spread throughout the village. Children are developing a strong sense of their identity as Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

Children hear te reo Maori being spoken around them within the kōhanga reo. Kaimahi include graduates from kura kaupapa Māori who only speak te reo Maori to children. Children understand what is spoken to them and reply using single words or basic phrases when prompted. Kaimahi provide correct language structures in te reo Māori when children speak English. Kaimahi use strategies such as rotarota, waiata and korikori tinana to promote the use of te reo Maori within the kōhanga reo. Kaimahi encourage the older children to lead karakia and hīmene. Children are developing their confidence and skills to speak te reo Māori while they are at kōhanga reo.

Children are affirmed in their learning. Kaimahi encourage children to wave and greet visitors from the front deck of the kōhanga reo. The context of the village has a major impact on what learning is most valued by the whānau and children. The village offers a range of natural activity which the children are able to regularly explore. Children have access to physical and natural resources. Digital technology is also used in the kōhanga reo through the provision of iPads to support learning. Children are confident learners who have unique learning experiences within the Whakarewarewa Village.

Planning and Evaluation

Programme planning, assessment and programme evaluation are in place. Planning reflects the village lifestyle and environment of the children. Planning considers the needs of a range of children. Kaimahi provide attractive and well-presented profile books which clearly reflect the planned learning experiences. Assessment information shows what children are learning and how well they are progressing. Kaimahi meet regularly to discuss the learning programme. The kaiako provides a written report at whānau hui. Kaimahi are focussed on providing a quality learning programme that affirms children’s identity as Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao.

The operations of the kōhanga reo are well managed. The whānau work collaboratively with the kaiwhakahaere and kaimahi to support children’s learning and care in the kōhanga reo. Systems and processes in the kōhanga reo are well managed by the kaiwhakahaere. The charter is regularly reviewed and updated. Policies are aligned to Ngā Pou e Whā and the relevant legislative requirements. The annual plan provides clear guidance to ensure that operations across all areas of the kōhanga reo are well implemented. Kaimahi ensure they observe key health and safety practices as children also spend time participating in activities around the village. Drills and registers are well monitored and recorded. Whānau management supports positive learning outcomes for children.

Key Next Steps

The natural and consistent use of te reo Māori by children is an area for development. While the kōhanga reo provides an environment where te reo Māori is used and heard throughout the day, many children speak English during their time at kōhanga reo. It is important for the whānau to also grow their own language skills so that children can continue to learn and use te reo Māori in their homes.

Further action and monitoring of strategic developments is required. The whānau developed a strategic plan that outlines their vision and goals for the kōhanga reo. They now need to develop and implement an action plan to realise their strategic aspirations. Reporting to whānau hui will enable them to track progress over time toward their goals.

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.

4 Recommendation

ERO and the Kōhanga Reo whānau developed the following recommendation:

• The whānau and kaimahi should identify and implement key actions to strengthen the use of te reo Māori by children and their whānau, and to ensure they are able to track progress towards achieving their strategic priorities for the kōhanga reo.

When is ERO likely to evaluate the kōhanga reo again?

The next ERO evaluation of Te Kōhanga Reo o Ngā Mōkai-ā-Koko will be in three years.

Charles Rolleston

Toka ā-nuku

27 May 2019

Information about the Kōhanga Reo