Students at St Andrew’s College celebrated Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) through a number of different fun activities and competitions. Most of the initiatives were student-led, which highlighted the enthusiasm they have for keeping our indigenous language alive. The week’s activities culminated in a special Years 9–10 Assembly led by Te Reo/Māori Studies teacher, Pete Westrupp, and assisted by Head of Middle School, Mikae Tuu’u, who spoke about the history of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Lily Champion-Smith (Year 10) delivered a speech on the relevance of the Year 9–10 students’ most recent tikanga Māori unit – Māori myths and legends, with some of the successful projects in this unit showcased at the assembly. The assembly was opened and closed through karakia by Holly Maraki (Year 9) and Oskar Trafford (Year 10), and William Kamo (Year 9) did the reading in Te Reo Māori. Some of the activities during the week included the ‘he aha tēnei’ interactive video challenge, a mau rākau (Māori weaponry) tutorial by Milo Betts (Year 12), playing Māori board games which were created by the students, a kīwaha challenge, and playing Maihimaina – Māori Minecraft, a game released last year, based on the first

Māori villages which features Te Reo Māori throughout and a lot of facts about Māori history and traditions. In The Green Library and Innovation Centre, students took part in a whakataukī challenge and Te Reo Māori phrase competition and were encouraged to ask for a book or laptop using Te Reo Māori. A lot of new faces joined the Māori and Pasifika Group’s weekly session, which had a focus on Māori games, waiata practice and traditional Māori kai. Te Wiki o te Reo Māori posters were also put up around the school to encourage staff and students to practise their reo throughout the week. Head of Middle School, Mikae Tuu'u, says that it was a hugely enjoyable week. “We are extremely grateful to have Pete Westrupp as part of our StAC community. He is having a hugely positive impact with his mana and passion for Māori culture and language. Thank you to all the staff and students who made the week an outstanding success. Kia Kaha te Reo Māori, Kia Kaha Hato Anaru, Kia Kaha Aotearoa.”