Te Kōhanga Reo o Taihoa

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 

E tū ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Taihoa ki te taha o te marae o Taihoa, ki Wairoa. Koia nei te kōhanga reo i whakatuwhera tuatahi ai i Wairoa, ā, kua whai wāhi atu ngā whakatupuranga maha o ngā whānau me ngā kaimahi ki te kaupapa nei. He motuhake tō rātou wāhi e tū ana ki te taha o Ngāti Kahungunu me te rohe o te Tai Rāwhiti, ā, nō te hapū o Ngāti Kurupakiaka ngā whānau. 

3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te whakaatu mai a ngā mokopuna i tō rātou māramatanga ki a rātou anō, ki tō rātou tūrangawaewae hoki? 

E kitea ana ki ngā mokopuna te tino māramatanga ki a rātou anō, ki tō rātou tūrangawaewae hoki mā ō rātou hononga tūturu e whai pūtake ana ki te taha o ngā tāngata me ngā whenua o te marae o Taihoa, me te hapū o Ngāti Kurupakiaka.

4 Ngā Whakaaturanga

E whakawhanake ana ngā mokopuna hei kaitiaki o tō rātou āhuru mōwai, o Te Pūtake o te Iwi me Te Kōhanga Reo o Taihoa. Kei te tino mārama rātou, kei te tautāwhi hoki rātou i ō rātou tūranga hei tangata whenua, i a rātou e whakatau manuhiri ana ki tō rātou whare. E whakatairangatia ana te wairua pai o te rā ki te whakapuakitanga o ngā waiata o Ngāti Kahungunu e rere tahi ana me te rakuraku, te ukurere hoki a ngā kaiako me ngā mokopuna. Ka poipoia te aronga toi whenuatanga o ngā mokopuna mā te whakapuakitanga o ngā pepeha, ā, he tūāhuatanga tēnei e whakapakarihia anō hoki ki te whai pānga mai a te marae o Taihoa ki te hōtaka akoranga. Ka ngākau nui ngā mokopuna ki ngā whai wāhitanga ki te kori tinana i tō rātou taiao ako ātaahua, tae atu hoki ki te marae ātea. Kua tino taunga ki a rātou ngā wāhi o te wharenui, e meatia ana ko “tōku whare kōrero” me “tōku whare wānanga”. E whanake ana ngā mokopuna hei puna o ngā kōrero tuku iho whakahirahira o tō rātou hapū me tō rātou iwi. 

Ka ahu mai ngā hononga i te aroha, te manaaki, me te poipoi, ā, koia nei te tino tūāpapa o ngā akoranga. Ka whakamahi ngā kaimahi i ngā rautaki e whai hua ana ki te whakapuaki me te whakatupu i ngā pūkenga ārahi o ngā mokopuna, pērā i te whakatauira, te whāngai kupu, te akiaki, me te whakamihi. Ka aro pai ngā mokopuna ki aua rautaki e hāpai ana i tā rātou ū ki ngā kaupapa mō te wā roroa. E tupu haere ana tō rātou ngākau titikaha ki te ārahi i ngā karakia me ngā waiata, me te tuku i ngā mihimihi. Ka whakatakoto, ka whakapūmau hoki ngā kaimahi i ngā tino tūmanako e mōhiotia ana, e māramahia ana hoki e ngā mokopuna. Ka kitea ki ngā mokopuna tuākana tō rātou manaaki me tō rātou atawhai mō ō rātou tēina. Ka poipoia, ka whakatairangatia hoki e ngā kaimahi te hononga ki waenga i te tuākana me te tēina. E puāwai mai ana ngā mokopuna hei kaiārahi. 

Kei te rawaka ngā mahere, te aromatawai, me te aromātai. Kei ngā mahere te tangongitanga o ngā whai wāhitanga ako mō ngā mokopuna, ā, kua whakahāngaitia ki te āhua o te taiao. Kua whakatakotohia te hōtaka i runga i te āhua o ngā kaupeka o te tau, o ngā atua Māori, o ngā kōrero tuku iho, ā, e hāngai ana hoki ki Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo. Kua whakaritea ngā haerenga, ā, ka whakatairanga ēnei i te whai wāhi atu ki te hapori. Ka aroturukitia te ahu whakamua a ngā mokopuna mā ngā mātai mokopuna. Ka kapohia ngā kitenga auau o te whakawhanaketanga o ngā mokopuna ki ngā kōnae ako. Ka whakatakoto ngā kaiako i ngā pūrongo whānui i ia marama mā ngā whānau. Ka whakatairangatia ngā whakawhitinga ki ngā kura kaupapa Māori o te takiwā nei, ā, ka whakatutukihia pai. Ka whakaaro huritao ngā kaimahi, ā, ka tuhia ngā whakawhitinga kōrero aromātai. Ka whakapakarihia ngā hononga o ngā mokopuna nā tā rātou whai wāhi atu ki te hapori. 

Ka mahi ngātahi te whānau, ā, ka kitea te ū pūmau o ngā whakatupuranga ki ngā mahi whakahaere a te whānau. He tino aronga i Te Ara Tūāpae ki te whakatupu i ngā pūkenga reo Māori o te katoa. He pai te hanganga o ngā hui ā-whānau, ā, he kaha hoki te taetae atu. Kua whakatakotohia te tukanga kia ū ai te pukumahi, ā, kia auau hoki te arotakenga me te whakahou ake i ngā kaupapa here me ngā tukanga e pā ana ki te hauora me te haumaru. E noho ngākau nui ana ngā whānau ki te āta whakatau i te māramatanga papai o ngā kaimahi ki te kaupapa here e pā ana ki te Tiaki Mokopuna, me te whai pānga o taua kaupapa here ki ō rātou tūranga. Ka ārahi ngā mahere ā-tau i ngā mahi whakahaere i te tari me te kōhanga reo. He pai te whakahaere i ngā pūtea, ā, ka pūrongotia i ia te wā. He tika te whakahaere i ngā take kaimahi, tae atu ki te arowhai i te haumaru. Nō nā noa nei ngā arohaehae i whakatinanahia ai, ā, e hono ana ngā whai wāhitanga whakawhanaketanga ngaio ki Te Ara Tūāpae. Ko ngā mokopuna kei te pūtake o ngā mahi whakahaere a te whānau. 

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake

Me whakapakari i te arotake o roto, hei āta whakatau i te whakapai tonutanga. Me whakahou ake te whānau i tā rātou tūtohinga, kia whakatakotohia hoki ngā whakatutukitanga nunui e miramira ana i te huarahi i whāia ai e Te Pūtake o te Iwi, e Te Kōhanga Reo o Taihoa hoki, kia tū pēnei ai i te rā nei. Ahakoa e tautuhi ana Te Ara Tūāpae i ngā whāinga me ngā kaupapa matua, kua tae ki te wā ki te whakaōkawa i tētahi mahere mahi e āta whakatau ai i te whakatinanatanga o ngā whāinga me te whakanuitanga anō hoki o te ahu whakamua. 

He mea nui kia whakatairangatia te whakatōpūtanga me ngā tino hononga ki waenga i ngā mahere, te aromatawai, me ngā mahi aromātai, kia whai pānga ake ai ēnei ki te kounga kairangi o ngā wheako ako e whakaratohia ana mō ngā mokopuna. Ka whai hua ngā mokopuna nā te pakari o ngā mahi arotake o roto e kōkiri ana i te whakapai tonutanga me te tupu tonutanga. 

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, 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 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 Ngā Taunakitanga

E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga kia mahi ngātahi ngā whānau me te tari ā-rohe o Te Taiwhenua ki te whakatutuki i ngā take i whakaraupapahia ai hei whakaritenga matua ki tēnei pūrongo. 

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

28 Paengawhāwhā, 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 

Te Kōhanga Reo o Taihoa is located next to Te Marae o Taihoa in Wairoa. They are the first kōhanga reo to open in Wairoa with whānau and kaimahi having generational dedication to the kaupapa. Their unique location borders both Kahungunu and Tairāwhiti districts and whānau are affiliated to the hapū of Ngāti Kurupakiaka.

3 Evaluation Focus

How well do mokopuna demonstrate an understanding of who they are and where they come from?

Mokopuna demonstrate a clear understanding of who they are and where they come through their authentic and meaningful connections to the people and whenua of Taihoa Marae and hapū of Ngāti Kurupakiaka.

4 Findings 

Mokopuna are developing as kaitiaki of their āhuru mōwai, Te Pūtake o te Iwi and Te Kōhanga Reo o Taihoa. They clearly understand and embrace their roles as tangata whenua as they warmly welcome manuhiri into their whare. The integration of Ngāti Kahungunu waiata, complimented by the sounds of the guitar and ukelele played by kaiako and mokopuna, set a positive tone for the day. Mokopuna's sense of belonging is nurtured through the sharing of pepeha, which is further strengthened by the natural integration of Taihoa Marae into the learning programme. Mokopuna enjoy opportunities to kori tinana in their pleasant learning environment, including the marae ātea. They are very familiar with areas of the wharenui, “tōku whare kōrero” and “tōku whare wānanga”. Mokopuna are developing as carriers of kōrero tuku iho significant to their hapū and iwi. 

Relationships are based on aroha, manaaki and poipoi as a firm foundation for learning. Kaimahi use effective strategies to engage and grow leadership capabilities among mokopuna, such as role modelling, prompting, encouraging and praise. Mokopuna respond positively to these strategies leading to sustained engagement for extended periods. Their confidence continues to grow in their ability to lead karakia, tuku mihimihi and ārahi waiata. Kaimahi set and maintain clear expectations which are known and understood by mokopuna. Older mokopuna display care and affection for their younger peers. Tuākana-tēina relationships are nurtured and promoted by kaimahi. Mokopuna are emerging as leaders.

Planning, assessment and evaluation are adequate. Planning provides a range of learning opportunities for mokopuna in alignment with the natural environment. The programme is structured around the seasons of the year, ngā atua Māori, ngā kōrero tuku iho and aligns to Te Whāriki a Te Kōhanga Reo. Planned excursions further promote engagement within the community. Mokopuna progress is monitored through mātai mokopuna. Regular observations of mokopuna development are captured in kōnae ako. Kaiako provide general monthly reports to whānau. Transitions to local kura kaupapa Māori are promoted and successful. Kaimahi are reflective and evaluative discussions are recorded. Mokopuna connections are strengthened through their involvement in the community. 

Whānau are collaborative and show an intergenerational commitment to whānau whakahaere practices. Te Ara Tūāpae has a strong focus on growing te reo Māori capability for all. Whānau hui are well structured and attended. There is a process in place to maintain productivity and to regularly review and update health and safety policies and procedures. Whānau are committed to ensuring kaimahi have a sound understanding of the Tiaki Mokopuna policy and its relevance to their roles. Annual plans guide administrative and operational tasks. Finances are well managed and regularly reported. Personnel matters, including safety checks are handled appropriately. Appraisals have recently been implemented, and professional development opportunities are connected to Te Ara Tūāpae. Mokopuna are at the heart of whānau whakahaere practices. 

Key Next Steps

Internal review requires strengthening to ensure continuous improvement. Whānau should update their tūtohinga to include significant milestones that highlight the story of Te Pūtake o te Iwi, Te Kōhanga Reo o Taihoa and its journey to becoming the place it is today. While Te Ara Tūāpae identifies goals and priorities, it is now time to formalise an action plan to ensure that goals are realised, and progress can be celebrated. 

It is important to enhance the cohesiveness and intentional links between planning, assessment, and evaluation practices to better reflect the high-quality learning experiences provided to mokopuna. Mokopuna benefit from robust internal review practices that drives continuous improvements and growth. 

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 recommend that whānau and Te Tari ā Rohe o Te Taiwhenua work together to address matters outlined in the key next steps of this report.

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

28 April 2025

7 Information about the kōhanga reo