Te Reo Māori After School Care & School Holiday Programmes
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Ko wai au
Ko Hikurangi, Ko Taupiri ōku MaungaKo Hokianga, Ko Kawhia ōku MoanaKo Taumarere, Ko Waikato ōku AwaKo Mataatua, Ko Tainui ōku WakaKo Otiria, Ko Kaiatamata ōku MaraeKo Ngati Hine, Ko Ngati Haua,
Ko Ngāti Maru ōku Iwi
Ko Toi, Ko Watana nga Tangata
Ko Trudy James ahau
Ko wai āku tamariki
He uri o Ngāti Whakaue ōku tamariki ki te taha o tō rātou pāpā
Kua noho au ki te rohe o Te Arawa waka neke atu i te tekau tau
Ko DJ, Blake, Case āku Tamariki
Ko DJ, Blake, Case āku Tamariki
Tāku Pakiwaitara / My Story.
Where it began
My Why – For the love of my whānau.
'Tūwhitia te hopo' - 'Banish your Fears' Nā Wharehuia Milroy
Establishing a Te Reo Māori afterschool and holiday programme in Rotorua just felt right! This journey has been the scariest thing I have set out to do, but it is by far the right thing to do. I have always felt in my puku, that no matter what happens this kaupapa is here to stay. I am stoked that I am creating a pathway for our tamariki to continue their own journeys through Te Ao Māori and in Te Reo Māori.
From Tamaki Makaurau to Rotorua.The thought of establishing a Te Reo Māori afterschool and holiday programme in Rotorua just felt right! Let me take you on a journey, a haerenga.
I grew up in the heart of G.I (Glen Innes), Tāmaki Makaurau for my junior years then moved to Ōrakei, Central East Auckland. Both Primary, Intermediate schooling Auckland and Kawerau. Secondary, Tertiary studies in Auckland.
I have always known I was Māori, but never completely understood what that meant until I finished studying art and moved to Rotorua (first time around) in 1995. Rotorua for me back then was so rich in Māori Culture. I worked in hospitality, dam those were the days ( I write this smiling of the memories) The Sheraton, the Novotel and even Tamaki Tours. Tamaki was the new kid on the block back then. I was living my best life with like-minded friends, all of whom had a story and all uniquely and unapologetically Māori. During my 6 years of living in Rotorua, I met my partner Darren. It would take a homegrown Te Arawa lad who worked in Auckland to see me return to Tamaki Makaurau. The move back to Tamaki set my career in motion. Three hotels later I fell hapu with DJ. My 2007 pēpi. Becoming parents it became very clear that Tāmaki Makaurau was not going to work for our whanau. So Darren and I (with the help of his parents) brought our first home in Rotorua. We knew we would make Rotorua our home but, also knew the timing to move there was not quite right.
In 2011 we finally made the move to Rotorua. Another job had presented itself to me in the form of a Luxury Lodge. Luxury is very different from corporate, but nevertheless still working to serve. It was not long after this that I needed to ignite my ahika. Making a commitment that I would study Te Reo Māori in this beautiful city. I started with a community-led beginners course, followed by night classes at Toi Ohomai then Te Wananga o Aotearoa. It became apparent that I needed this, I loved the difference Te Reo Māori was making in me and the beautiful perspective that Te Ao Māori was making in mine and my whānau lives. Between work and raising a family, I had commenced my reo journey albeit at a glacial pace. But unbeknown to me at that time, Te Reo Māori would be the opening to my current path Why now? The short answer, my tamariki. With three tamariki and two youngest having attended Te Pakarito (a full immersion whanau based ECE). I had to take the plunge to keep up the korero with my babies. I was amazed at the ability of my tamariki to thrive in Te Ao Maori. At the end of my working day, I would sneak into Te Pakarito so they couldn’t see me, just to hear them korero so naturally. Because when they saw me, they would korero pakeha. This just didn’t sit right with me.
The start of 2019 Darren and I sat down and planned how I could take a year off to study Te Reo Māori full-time. Realising all systems were a go, I continued my part-time course at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and started my full-time study at He Kainga mō te Reo. Both are very different in how they approach learning of Te Reo Māori. Both amazing! After completing Te Reo Māori level 3 & 4, I was amped. But now reality set in and I knew after the holidays of 2019/20, I had to return to mahi. I also knew that I had to have a job that had some degree of māoritanga. Over the holidays and armed with my new perspective of Te Ao Māori, I got to thinking about how I could continue to learn Te Reo Māori and provide for my tamariki. Māori being creative and clever people, I put on my thinking cap, then it dawned on me. With one child in school already, and in a multitude of sports, and another starting school. I knew when I went back to work I was going to have to put them into afterschool care, and so, 'I whanau mai tāku whakaaro' - 'My idea was born!'. From here I spoke with Darren and a few friends as you do, about starting a Te Reo Māori afterschool programme, and BOOM I established Kura Kārearea in March 2020. With COVID, we had a less than desirable start, but nevertheless, we made our start post covid August 2020 and have been moving forward since.
It may have taken me 4 decades to adjust to the effects of colonisation on my life however, I am thrilled to stand here today and fulfill what I feel is my life’s purpose. Helping our people and our language continue to thrive.
I grew up in the heart of G.I (Glen Innes), Tāmaki Makaurau for my junior years then moved to Ōrakei, Central East Auckland. Both Primary, Intermediate schooling Auckland and Kawerau. Secondary, Tertiary studies in Auckland.
I have always known I was Māori, but never completely understood what that meant until I finished studying art and moved to Rotorua (first time around) in 1995. Rotorua for me back then was so rich in Māori Culture. I worked in hospitality, dam those were the days ( I write this smiling of the memories) The Sheraton, the Novotel and even Tamaki Tours. Tamaki was the new kid on the block back then. I was living my best life with like-minded friends, all of whom had a story and all uniquely and unapologetically Māori. During my 6 years of living in Rotorua, I met my partner Darren. It would take a homegrown Te Arawa lad who worked in Auckland to see me return to Tamaki Makaurau. The move back to Tamaki set my career in motion. Three hotels later I fell hapu with DJ. My 2007 pēpi. Becoming parents it became very clear that Tāmaki Makaurau was not going to work for our whanau. So Darren and I (with the help of his parents) brought our first home in Rotorua. We knew we would make Rotorua our home but, also knew the timing to move there was not quite right.
In 2011 we finally made the move to Rotorua. Another job had presented itself to me in the form of a Luxury Lodge. Luxury is very different from corporate, but nevertheless still working to serve. It was not long after this that I needed to ignite my ahika. Making a commitment that I would study Te Reo Māori in this beautiful city. I started with a community-led beginners course, followed by night classes at Toi Ohomai then Te Wananga o Aotearoa. It became apparent that I needed this, I loved the difference Te Reo Māori was making in me and the beautiful perspective that Te Ao Māori was making in mine and my whānau lives. Between work and raising a family, I had commenced my reo journey albeit at a glacial pace. But unbeknown to me at that time, Te Reo Māori would be the opening to my current path Why now? The short answer, my tamariki. With three tamariki and two youngest having attended Te Pakarito (a full immersion whanau based ECE). I had to take the plunge to keep up the korero with my babies. I was amazed at the ability of my tamariki to thrive in Te Ao Maori. At the end of my working day, I would sneak into Te Pakarito so they couldn’t see me, just to hear them korero so naturally. Because when they saw me, they would korero pakeha. This just didn’t sit right with me.
The start of 2019 Darren and I sat down and planned how I could take a year off to study Te Reo Māori full-time. Realising all systems were a go, I continued my part-time course at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and started my full-time study at He Kainga mō te Reo. Both are very different in how they approach learning of Te Reo Māori. Both amazing! After completing Te Reo Māori level 3 & 4, I was amped. But now reality set in and I knew after the holidays of 2019/20, I had to return to mahi. I also knew that I had to have a job that had some degree of māoritanga. Over the holidays and armed with my new perspective of Te Ao Māori, I got to thinking about how I could continue to learn Te Reo Māori and provide for my tamariki. Māori being creative and clever people, I put on my thinking cap, then it dawned on me. With one child in school already, and in a multitude of sports, and another starting school. I knew when I went back to work I was going to have to put them into afterschool care, and so, 'I whanau mai tāku whakaaro' - 'My idea was born!'. From here I spoke with Darren and a few friends as you do, about starting a Te Reo Māori afterschool programme, and BOOM I established Kura Kārearea in March 2020. With COVID, we had a less than desirable start, but nevertheless, we made our start post covid August 2020 and have been moving forward since.
It may have taken me 4 decades to adjust to the effects of colonisation on my life however, I am thrilled to stand here today and fulfill what I feel is my life’s purpose. Helping our people and our language continue to thrive.
