Bicultural Focus
Tikanga ā-rua
We are a proud bicultural organisation, upholding our commitment to the Te Tiriti o Waitangi, practicing tikanga, local kawa and embedding te reo Māori into our daily mahi.
We have adopted an innovative way of working that enhances and celebrates the importance and uniqueness of Te Ao Māori, and all that is encompasses.
As part of our commitment to upholding Aotearoa’s bicultural heritage, Tikanga, Kawa & other Māori concepts are woven throughout our programmes and are combined with the best in International ECE research and practice.
We are committed to honouring Te Ao Māori by ensuring that Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Aotearoa’s founding document, is acknowledged, respected, and remains central to all our efforts. We embed its principles in every aspect of our organization, ensuring it is a guiding force in everything we create, integrate and support.
Our Māori teaching staff lead the delivery of the bicultural components of our programmes. Each of our 11 regional education centres throughout the country has a Pouako, Kaumātua and Kuia who support and advise on protocol to enhance the understanding of Te Ao Māori, ensuring the integrity of our mahi is upheld. Our regional education centres reflect the kawa and dialect of their region and undertake practices in accordance with mana whenua.
Alongside this, governance of Te Rito Maioha is supported by a National Kaumātua and Kaiwhakahaere; positions reserved for Māori only to protect the integrity and interests of Te Ao Māori.
Other Māori-focused initiatives include our He Pātaka Reo course, an online learning tool to support the further development of Te Reo Māori. This course guides learners from beginner to advanced levels, fostering the growth and development of the language. For those who want to carry on that journey, we are also proudly in partnership with the Ministry of Education & Te Ataarangi, delivering Te Ahu o Te Reo, an incentive to grow the capability and confidence of early learning and secondary school teachers and staff. To not only normalise Māori identity, culture and language but also to inspire improved proficiency, acquisition and use of te reo Māori across the education sector.
From noho marae components for our students and organizing monthly Māori-focused challenges to hosting annual kapa haka performances for our staff and celebrating Matatini and Matariki, we actively showcase and support Te Ao Māori at every opportunity.
