This past weekend, rangatahi Māori students gathered at Kāpiti Marae for the inaugural Kura Wā, centering on the profound kaupapa, “Nō hea koe?”. Students moved beyond traditional definitions of identity, exploring their history and the legacy of Te Reo and Te Ao Māori through unique, hands-on lenses. From collaborating on a massive kowhaiwhai piece under expert guidance to experimenting with traditional puoro (instruments) following a live performance, the weekend was a masterclass in cultural connection.
A participating student, Ruaariki, found the time away really valuable and interesting :
“This Kura Wā was such a unique way to think about the question ‘Nō hea koe?’ We explored our identity through non-traditional lenses that made everything so much more interesting. One highlight was working with an expert to create a massive kowhaiwhai piece together, and another was getting to play around with traditional puoro after watching a performance.
We also had a lot of great hauora activities—we’d start the morning with waiata and movement, then play games in the gym at night. The whole environment was amazing; the tuakana and teina worked together to create a space where we could be vulnerable and really learn more about who we are. It was a massive weekend of building new relationships.”
This successful first Kura Wa wouldn’t have been possible without the dedicated support of Jason Va’a (Co-Learning Area Leader of Māori) and Alyx Devlin (Co-Rangatahi Māori Dean, and Co-Year 12 Dean).