Porirua has filled the week with waiata, kapa haka, stories and activities as the city celebrates Te Wiki o te Reo Māori.
The week began on Monday with the raising of the Tino Rangatiratanga flag at Pātaka, followed by a major celebration at Te Rauparaha Arena involving students from schools across Porirua.
Hundreds of tamariki gathered at the arena to celebrate te reo Māori through song and dance, with school groups and local artists taking to the stage.
One of the morning’s standout moments came when Aotea College students taught hundreds of younger tamariki the waiata Nau piki mai ki Porirua.
Porirua City Council described it as “a very special moment”.
Earlier in the day, Porirua Mayor Anita Baker joined the flag raising at Pātaka, describing the gathering as a “fantastic morning” and saying it was “incredible to see such an awesome turnout from our community”.
She thanked Jarom Hippolite and Taku Parai for their kōrero about the importance, beauty and strength of te reo Māori.
The event also included waiata from the Porirua City Council Te Kaunihera group and a performance by Porirua College’s Te Rōpū Kapa Haka o Te Kareti.
Tuesday brought te reo into play, with both bilingual and full-immersion Kindy Gym sessions at Te Rauparaha Arena for young tamariki.
On Wednesday, Waiata Wenerei brought people together at Pātaka for Māori language and song, while the City Centre Library hosted a special Reorua edition of Story World.
The celebrations continued on Thursday with Waiata Pēpi at the City Centre Library, giving pēpi, preschoolers and their caregivers another chance to share waiata and te reo Māori.
This year’s Te Wiki campaign is centred on Te Reo Towns, encouraging communities to make te reo Māori visible, heard and used in everyday life.
Porirua’s programme continues into the weekend.
Friday 18 September
At 12.30pm, Pātaka hosts Mutumutu ki Mukukai: Freshwater to Saltwater, with curator, cultural advisor and educator Te Rauparaha Horomona sharing kōrero about the Ngāti Toa Rangatira exhibition and the iwi’s enduring relationship with the region’s waterways.
A poi-making workshop follows at the City Centre Library from 3.30pm to 5.15pm.
The evening moves to Cannons Creek, where the Pacific Night Market will take on a Te Wiki o te Reo Māori theme from 5.30pm to 8.30pm at Te Akapuanga Hall, 14 Mentor Lane.
Saturday 19 September
The celebrations head to the water at Te Rauparaha Arena Aquatics, with a Manu Platform running from midday to 4pm and inviting people to show their best moves.
Sunday 20 September
Sunday marks the final day of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, bringing Porirua’s week of events and activities to a close.
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori runs from 14 to 20 September.
