Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Paa Harakeke

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 

“I eenei raa anoo te rito ngaa mokopuna ko ngaa whakaruruhau ko taatou te whaanau o Te Koohanga Reo” 

E tū pā tata ana Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Paa Harakeke ki te marae o Te Puea, ki Māngere. E arahina ana ngā whānau e te tirohanga o ngā kaumātua i whakatū ai, i whakatuwhera ai anō hoki i te kōhanga reo i te tau 1994. Ka whakaū te kōhanga reo i ōna hononga ki Te Kura Kaupapa Māori ā-Rohe o Māngere me Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae. 

3 Te Aronga o te Aromātai

He pēhea rawa te whakapuaki mai a ngā mokopuna i tō rātou māramatanga ki te tuakiritanga? 

Ka kitea ki ngā mokopuna te tupu haere o tō rātou māramatanga ki tō rātou tuakiritanga.

4 Ngā Whakaaturanga

E rumakina ana ngā mokopuna ki te taiao ako tūturu e mau ana i te hōhonutanga o te ahurea, ā, e arahina ana e ngā mātāpono o te ao Māori. Ka whai pānga matua Te Kīngitanga ki te hōtaka akoranga, hei āta whakatau i te whakawhanaketanga o ngā mokopuna i tō rātou tino hononga ki ā rātou taonga tuku iho. Ka whai wāhi mātātoa rātou ki ngā tikanga ahurea whakahirahira, pērā i ngā karakia o te Pai Mārire me ngā waiata ā-iwi, ā, ka whakahōhonu i tō rātou māramatanga ki ngā tikanga me ngā whakapapa. Ka ārahi ngā kaimahi puta noa i te kōhanga reo, mā te whakatauira i ngā tikanga me ngā kawa. Ka tuitui ngā kaimahi i te tangongitanga o ngā rautaki reo, pērā i ngā karakia, ngā waiata, ngā rotarota, ngā hīmene me te kori tinana. He ngākau titikaha ō ngā mokopuna ki te whai wāhi atu ki ngā mihi ki te tangata, ā, ka whakapuaki ngā pēpi i tō rātou māramatanga mā ō rātou tohu ā-ringa, ā-kanohi hoki, me ngā oro, ā, ka mātakitaki, ka tāwhai hoki rātou i ō rātou tuākana. Ka noho matua te manaakitanga me te aroha ki ngā taunekeneke katoa, ā, ka poipoia ngā mokopuna ki te atawhai me te tiaki o ngā kaimahi me te whānau. Ka ārahi, ka hāpai ngā tuākana i ō rātou tēina, ā, ka whakatauira i te ngākau māhaki, te aroha, me te māiatanga i roto i ā rātou taunekeneke o ia rā. E whanake ana ngā mokopuna i te tino tuakiritanga mā ō rātou hononga ki ngā tikanga me ngā kōrero tuku iho. 

Ka mahi ngātahi ngā kaimahi ki te whakamahere i te hōtaka akoranga, ki te aroturuki i te ahu whakamua a ngā mokopuna, me te aromātai i te hōtaka akoranga. E whai kiko ana ngā mahere e ahu mai ana i Te Whāriki, ā, e poipoi ana i te whānuitanga tonu o ngā reanga me ngā matea. Ka whiriwhirihia ngā taumahi ako hei whakaongaonga, hei whakawhānui hoki i te ako a ngā mokopuna. Kei te mārama ngā whāinga ako, ka whai pānga ki ngā mahi aromatawai papai. Kei te auau ngā aromatawai, ā, e tautuhi ana i te ahu whakamua a ngā mokopuna i roto i te whakawhanaketanga ā-tinana, ā-tangata, ā-whatumanawa hoki i āta whakatakotohia ai ki ngā aromatawai o Mātai Mokopuna me Story Park. E wātea ana aua mōhiohio i te kōhanga reo me te ipurangi, hei tirohanga mā ngā whānau. Whakaaro huritao ai ngā kaimahi i ia te wā mō te hōtaka akoranga, ā, he pai te whakatakoto haere i te aromātai e arotahi ai ki te whakatairanga tonutanga. E whai wāhi nui ana ngā mokopuna ki ngā akoranga e arotahi ana ki tō rātou māramatanga ki te tuakiritanga. 

Kua whakaritea e ngā whānau ngā pūnaha whai hua mō te whakahaere i ngā whakaritenga. Tū ai ngā hui ā-whānau i ia te wā, he kaha te taetae atu, ā, he tino mōhiohio o roto i ngā meneti. Ko ngā kaupapa here matua me ngā tukanga matua o te hauora, te haumaru, me ngā kaimahi, e hāngai katoa ana ki ngā herenga ā-ture o te wā, ā, e aro nui ana ki te waiora o ngā mokopuna. Whakahaerehia ai e ngā kaimahi ngā hōneatanga ohotata auau, ā, he pai hoki te tuhi haere i aua wā. Kei te tūtohinga te hītori o te kōhanga reo mai i tōna tīmatanga, ā, ka whakaraupapa i tētahi aronga nahanaha e ahu mai ana i ngā mātāpono o Te Korowai. Ka whakatutuki haere ngā whānau i te katoa o ngā mahi me ngā kaupapa matua o te tari, ā, ka āta whakatau i te whiwhinga o ngā mokopuna i ngā hua ka puta i te papai o ngā pūnaha me ngā tukanga. He pai te whakahaeretanga o ngā take kaimahi, ā, kua whakaritea ngā tuhinga mahi pērā i ngā kirimina takitahi, ngā tuhinga tūranga mahi, me ngā tuhinga arowhai i manatokotia ai mō te haumaru o ngā kaimahi. Kua āta whakaritea e ngā whānau ngā pūnaha me ngā tukanga e pā ana ki te arohaehae. Ka whakatutuki haere ngā whānau i te katoa o ngā mahi me ngā kaupapa matua o te tari. Kei te matawhānui te mahere rautaki, ā, ka whakamōhiotia ki Ngā Pou e Whā. Kei ngā whāinga pae tawhiti te ngātahitanga o ngā wawata o ngā whānau mō ngā mokopuna. Ko ngā mokopuna kei te pūtake o te whakatau ngātahi a ngā whānau i ngā whakaritenga. 

Ngā Whakaritenga Matua ka whai ake

Kua tae atu ngā kaimahi ki ngā whakangungu e pā ana ki te Children's Act 2014, kua kitea hoki tō rātou tino māramatanga ki taua ture, heoi, me wānanga tonu ngā mema o te whānau hei whakapiki ake i tō rātou mōhiotanga me tō rātou māramatanga ki ngā tukanga o roto i te kaupapa here. 

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. 

5 Te Taunakitanga

E taunaki ana Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga kia toro atu te whānau ki te tautoko o te tari ā-rohe o Te Poari Matua o Ngā Kōhanga Reo ki te whakapiki ake i te mōhiotanga o te whānau me ngā kaimahi, i ā rātou whakaritenga anō hoki, kia tutuki ai i a rātou ngā takohanga i whakaraupapahia ai ki te kaupapa here e pā ana ki te ārai tamariki. 

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

22 Haratua, 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 

“I eenei raa anoo te rito ngaa mokopuna ko ngaa whakaruruhau ko taatou te whaanau o Te Koohanga Reo” 

Te Kōhanga Reo o Te Paa Harakeke is located opposite Te Puea Memorial Marae in Māngere. Whānau are guided by the vision of kaumātua who established and opened the kōhanga reo in 1994. The kōhanga reo maintains a close relationship with Te Kura Kaupapa Māori-ā-rohe o Māngere and Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae.  

3 Evaluation Focus

How well do mokopuna express their understanding of tuakiritanga? 

Mokopuna demonstrate a growing understanding of their tuakiritanga.

4 Findings 

Mokopuna are immersed in a culturally rich and authentic learning environment, guided by the principles of te ao Māori. Te Kiingitanga is a fundamental aspect of the learning programme, ensuring mokopuna develop a strong connection to their heritage. They actively participate in significant cultural practices such as karakia Pai Mārire and waiata ā iwi, deepening their understanding of tikanga and whakapapa. Throughout the kohanga reo kaimahi provide guidance by modelling tikanga and kawa. Kaimahi incorporate a variety of language strategies, such as karakia, waiata, rotarota, himene and kori tinana. Mokopuna engage confidently in mihi ki te tangata, additionally, pēpi express their understanding through gestures, facial expressions and sounds, observing and imitating their tuākana. Manaakitanga and aroha are central to all interactions, with mokopuna being nurtured with warmth and care by their kaimahi and whānau. Tuākana guide and uplift their tēina, modelling ngākau māhaki, aroha, and māiatanga in their daily interactions. Mokopuna are developing a strong sense of identity through their connections to tikanga and korero tuku iho. 

Kaimahi collaborate in the planning of the programme, monitoring mokopuna progress and programme evaluation.  Planning is detailed and grounded in Te Whāriki and caters for different ages and needs. Learning activities are chosen to stimulate and extend mokopuna learning. Learning goals are clear and inform good assessment practices. Assessments are regular and identify mokopuna progress towards physical, social and emotional development, explicit within the assessment tools of Matai mokopuna and Story Park. This information is available to whānau within the kohanga reo and online. The kaimahi regularly reflect upon the learning programme and evaluation is well recorded, the focus is upon improvement. Mokopuna are engaged in learning that focusses on their understanding of their identity.

Whānau have established efficient systems for managing operations. Whānau hui are held regularly and are well attended, with hui minutes providing valuable information. Core health, safety and personnel policies and procedures align with current legislation, prioritising mokopuna wellness. Kaimahi conduct regular emergency evacuations, which are well documented. The tūtohinga contains the history of the kōhanga reo since its inception, outlining a planned approach based on the principles of Te Korowai. Whānau are attentive to all administrative tasks and priorities, ensuring mokopuna benefit from efficient systems and processes. Personnel matters are well managed, with employment documentation including individual agreements, position descriptions and verified kaimahi safety checks. Whānau have established systems and processes for appraisals. Whānau are attentive to all administrative tasks and priorities. The strategic plan is comprehensive and informed by Nga Pou e Wha. Long term goals include the collective aspirations of whānau for mokopuna. Mokopuna are the centre of collective whānau decision making. 

Key Next Steps

Whilst kaimahi have attended training and demonstrate a clear understanding of the Children’s Act 2014, whānau members require further wananga to increase awareness and understanding of the procedures contained in this policy.  

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 seek support from Te Tari-ā-Rohe to further increase whānau and kaimahi knowledge and practice for them to meet their obligations as set out in the Child Protection policy.

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

22 May 2025

7 Information about the kōhanga reo