Te tuatahi, ki to tātou Atua, māna te timatanga, māna te whakamutunga he hōnore ki a ia.
Turua, ki te Kīngi Māori, Kīngi Tuheitia paimarire ki a ia, kia ora te Kāhui Ariki whānui tonu. E ngā iwi, e ngā mana, e ngā mātao waka, e koro mā, e kui mā, ngā mātua, ngā whanau, koutou hoki ngā whanaunga, o ngā tamariki, mokopuna o te kura tuarua o Hato Petera, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
To honor our world and the adorning light, “Hark tis the breath of life”.
Firstly, to god, the beginner of all things, the end of all things we honor him. Secondly, to the Māori King, Kīngi Tuheitia, good will to him, acknowledgements to his family and to other royals. To the people, the prestige, to various waka, to our elders, our parents, our family’s, also our relations of the children, grandchildren of St Peters Secondary School we acknowledge you once, twice, three times.
Ki te whakawhanake hononga kaha (To develop strong relationships). It is through our Kaumātua Matua Haki Herengatai Wirihana and Kaiako Māori/Kapa Haka Tutor Carlson Karehana Wirihana, who engage with local iwi Ngāti Hauā and Ngāti Korokī Kahukura. They are responsible in supporting Hato Petera Kemureti (St Peters Cambridge) in ngā mea Māori (Things Māori), ngā kaupapa Māori (Māori Themes), ngā āhuatanga Māori (Māori concepts), tikanga Māori (Māori traditions) and ritenga Māori (Māori custom).
Ako i te reo Māori (Learning the Māori language) Year 7 to 13. All Year 7 & 8 classes/students are introduced to a compulsory 8 week block of basic te reo Māori (the Māori Language) and kapa haka (culture). This year, Year 9 te reo Māori (the Māori language), is an option full year course. Students who already have significant ability in te reo can learn more advanced te reo Māori (the Māori language) through Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu (Correspondence School), subject to its enrolment criteria. This allows students to undertake a course in te reo Māori (the Māori language) at any level, from beginners to NCEA Levels 1–3.
Te rōpu kapa haka (The cultural group). Te rōpu kapa haka (The cultural group) have learnt a repertoire of waiata (songs) and haka (physical actions) to support our school, church, faculty’s and staff in tikanga Māori (Māori traditions), ritenga Maori (Māori custom), powhiri (welcomes), whakatau (greeting), poroporoaki (farewells) and hāhi (church).Therefore they have been able to perform at school assemblies, events and local kapa haka performances.
Kaiwhakaako rōpu (Tutor group). This year we started a kaiwhakaako rōpu (tutor group) dedicated to fostering tikanga Māori (Māori traditions) and ritenga Māori (Māori custom) to embrace and enhance Māori students learning at their highest level to achieve success and aspire to leadership roles. Another particular aim is to help our Māori students draw strength from their cultural identity so that they do not forget who they are and where they’re from.
The kaiwhakaako rōpu (tutor group) is led by Kaiako Māori/kapa haka tutor Matua Carlson Karehana Wirihana, Computing teacher/Year 10 Dean Mr Duncan Baird supported by Business & Accounting Mrs Margaret Welsh. The kaiwhakaako rōpu (tutor group) is open to any student who wants to embrace Māori culture, regardless of ethnicity or background. New students will have the option to sign up when enrolling at St Peters.
Elements of the tikanga Māori (Māori traditions) and ritenga Māori (Māori custom) programme include:
- bilingual interaction
- support for students studying te reo Māori
- learning waiata, (songs) haka (physical actions), and karakia & hīmene (prayers & hymns)
- creating strong links within the St Peters Māori community
- inviting Māori leaders and role models to share their experiences
- Hui (meetings) and marae noho (overnight stay) for students and whanau (families)
- Kapa haka (cultural) performances
- Participating in regional and local events such as Poukai (celebration for marae assigned to the Māori King movement), Koroneihana (Māori Kings Coronation), Tūrangawaewae (Ngāruawahia) rowing regatta and Kīngitanga (recognition of the Māori King movement) day at the University of Waikato.
It is intended that at the start of each year the Māori tutor group will have a noho marae (live in) for students and whanau at one of our local marae within the Ngāti Hauā or Ngāti Korokī Kahukura region. During that time goals are set for the year in both ritenga Māori (Māori custom) and academic studies. It is within our grasp to look at a balance and commitment to this for our tamariki (children) mokopuna (grandchildren), whanau (families) and relations (whanaunga).
Te Haka o Hato Petera (the haka of St Peter’s). A taonga (gift) to our school as a powerful expression of our identity and mana (prestige). It reflects our motto — Structa saxo — and our school’s special character. Performed by the tuakana (elder brothers & sisters) and teina (younger brothers and sisters) side by side in important school functions, events and occasions. More so recognised within our sports teams to perform this haka (physical actions) to issue and respond to challenges.
Some important elements of the haka Hato Petera (St Peters physical action) are:
Aha kowai mātou e ngunguru nei.
Hato Petera, Hato Petera.
“Who is making that thunderous noise?
It is us, St Peter’s.”
Ngā toka tu moana ara toa rongonui.
“Our strength that cuts through rock like raging waters.”
Haere mai rā Atua ki toku tinana.
“Come lord down into me, into my body.”
Toku toa, he toa atua.
“Our bravery is inherited from you our forbear.”
Toku mana, toku ihi, ki te manawa, mau tonu, mau tonu
“Over our hearts we bare our emblem of pride for which we stand up for.”
