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We have six learning studios in our main building at Rāwhiti. Each studio is named after a Māori Atua or guardian.
Our building colours reflect the narrative "from the mountains to the sea" or "suburbs to sand dunes". Each of the studios also features a relevant native bird and tree from our cultural narrative document on their window manifestations.
In 2022 we gained a new relocatable studio. We have linked this building name, bird and tree with the main building.
More information on each of the studios can be found in this brochure.
Brown/Red at the western end of the building to acknowledge The Canterbury Plains (Ngā Pākihi Whakatekateka a Waitaha) which has historical significance as the area where the Ngāi Tūāhuriri tribe first settled and then spread, and also acknowledges the early trails from the Ashburton to Waimakariri rivers. We could also link the colour brown to the mudflats and sand dunes which were both areas of abundant food sources.
rongo-mā-tāne
rongo-mā-tāne
Rongo ma tane- guardian of peace & cultivated foods
In Māori mythology, Rongo is a major god, the god of cultivated food, especially the kūmara, a vital food crop. Other food crops cultivated by Māori in traditional times include taro, yams (uwhi), cordyline (tī), and gourds (hue)
papatūānuku
papatūānuku
Papatuanuku - guardian of the earth/Earth Mother
In Māori tradition, Papatūānuku is the land. She is a mother earth figure who gives birth to all things, including people. Trees, birds and people are born from the land, which then nourishes them.
Green for the two middle studios, to acknowledge the swamps and estuary which were a source of eels, whitebait, mānuka, edible ferns and roots, weka and other flora and fauna which provided clothing, building materials or medicinal uses.
haumia-tiketike
haumia-tiketike
Haumia-tiketike - guardian of uncultivated foods
In Māori mythology, Haumia-tiketike (or simply Haumia) is the god of wild or uncultivated foods.
tāne mahuta
tāne mahuta
Tane Mahuta - guardian of the forest
In Māori mythology, Tāne (also called Tāne Mahuta, Tāne nui a Rangi, and several other names) is the god of forests and of birds.
Blue at the eastern end to acknowledge our seaside location, Ihutai (the coastline that runs from Sumner to New Brighton) and Ōruapaeroa (New Brighton Beach) which was known as a significant area for catching shark, sole, flounder and collecting shellfish.
In 2022 a relocatable classroom was located at the western end of the back field. This learning studio is called Aotahi. More information about the name and storying of Aotahi can be found here.
Brown/Red colourings within the building to link Aotahi to the main building and in particular Papatūānuku and Rongomātāne studios. Also situated at the western end of the site to acknowledge Aotahi being the red star at the end of the Milky Way.
AOTAHI
AOTAHI
Aotahi - guardian of peace & cultivated foods
In Māori mythology, Aotahi is the name of Canopus, (Alpha Carinae), the second brightest star in the night-time sky.
Aotahi is considered to be very tapu star, and always dwells alone. Of all the stars known to the Māori, Aotahi had a special place, along with Rigel (Puanga), because of their association with kumara cultivation. Their appearance in the eastern sky was the sign for planting to begin. Aotahi and Puanga could also be used to foretell the weather.
Atua pictures sourced from https://kauwhatareo.govt.nz/en/
He aha te mea nui? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
What is important - it is people, it is people, it is people.
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