KO WAI MĀTOU?

Tōku reo tōku ohooho, tōku reo tōku māphi maurea

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā matā waka, nei rā te mihi maioha ki a koutou.

E noho ana mātou ki ngā rekereke o te Ipu o Mataoho, ki te papa tākaro ā ngā tūrehu ki te riu o Maunga Whau, ki Te Whenua o ngā Kīngi, Te Pito o Tāmaki Makaurau. Ka whakakākāhutia ngā tamariki i te korowai Reo Māori me ōna tikanga kia noho, kia mau hoki i tōna ake tuakiritanga. Ko wai mātou? Ko Whānau Pounamu, Te Kura Takawaenga o Kōwhai.

I te tau 1991 i whakatū Te Whānau Pounamu ki te Kura Takawaenga o Kōwhai hei akomanga reo rua. I te tau 2002 i panonitia kia rumaki reo Whānau Pounamu. Ki reira i hua mai ngā akomanga e toru. Ko Pou Herenga Waka, Pou Manaaki,a, ko Pou Tū Arahi. 

“Tōku reo tōku ohooho, tōku reo tōku māpihi maurea”

Whānau Pounamu is a parallel pathway of learning that is underpinned by Te Reo Māori me ōna tikanga. Graduates of Whānau Pounamu are empowered culturally with a strong sense of identity who are competent, confident, and connected lifelong learners.

Whānau Pounamu was first established as a bilingual class in 1991.  This class later developed a Rumaki Reo class in 1993 due to the higher levels of competency in Te Reo Māori,  most of whom were graduates of ngā Kōhanga Reo. In 1996 a second class was established. 2002 saw the third class established in response to the community demands. We continue to respond to the needs and aspirations of our whānau whānui.