At Bethlehem Tertiary Institute (BTI), Mātauranga Māori is an integral part of our culture and operations. During Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, we seized the opportunity to deepen our expression of Tikanga across the institute, highlighting our commitment to Māori culture and language.
Our heads of school, Gayle and Tauha, expressed their satisfaction with the week’s activities, which focused on enhancing our Te Tiriti-informed practices. Here’s a summary of our engagement throughout the week:
- Celebratory Start: We kicked off the week with a full Pōhiri to welcome two new staff members, setting a positive tone for the celebrations.
- Waiata Session: In the afternoon, we were privileged to have Josie from Ngāti Kahu join us for a session focused on waiata, adding more songs to our repertoire to enrich our cultural practices.
- NZQA Engagement: On Tuesday, we hosted NZQA for our postgraduate suite, culminating in another full pōhiri. This engagement involved two days of meaningful discussions with the assessment panel.
- Guest Speaker: Later that day, we welcomed Hayward Cooker, a former BTI student and current Tuamaki at Te Whare o Kura Mauau. He shared insights about his work and highlighted the significance of Mātauranga Māori in the kura.
- Te Reo Games: On Wednesday afternoon, our staff participated in Te Reo games, promoting language learning in a fun and engaging way.
- Cultural Celebration: We concluded the week with Kai Tahi, a shared meal featuring boil-up, seafood chowder, and other delicious dishes. This gathering celebrated the richness of different cultures and provided an opportunity for students to participate in activities, showcasing their growing confidence in using Te Reo.
Overall, it was a joyful week at BTI, reinforcing our commitment to integrating Māori language and culture into our educational practices. The enthusiasm and confidence displayed by our community in using Te Reo have been truly inspiring.
Watch the highlight video here