Tau ke! He kai kei aku ringa wānanga

We are so proud to share an update on three of our whanaunga who are taking part in a very special wānanga led by He Kai Kei Aku Ringa – a total te reo Māori immersion programme built around mahinga kai, connecting to our atua, and building our reo while out on the water and in the ngahere.

Sophia Takimoana, Santana Mackey, and Allanyah Misiepo were selected to take part in He Kai Kei Aku Ringa’s pilot te reo Māori immersion wānanga, learning mahinga kai on the water and in the ngahere, entirely through te reo.

They have shown up with heart, commitment, and growing confidence every week – and we couldn’t be prouder of the mahi they are doing for themselves and their whānau.

📍 What they've been up to

In this first Tangaroa phase of the wānanga, our tauira have been connecting to the moana:

• A beautiful whakawhanaungatanga session at the beach, including a tohi as a rōpū, kai, and learning karakia
• Two evenings out on the boats – fishing, processing, and taking ika home to whānau
• Three Zoom sessions exploring pūrākau, rerenga hou, kupu hou, and kēmū – all in te reo Māori

On the waka, the rōpū are in a full rūmaki reo space. Every new skill – setting up a line, baiting a hook, catching a fish – is learned through te reo. And if reo Pākehā slips in? There's a fun wero waiting! 😄

The next phase takes them into the ngāhere with Tāne Māhuta – watch this space! 🌿

Learn more about He Kai Kei Aku Ringa on their website https://hkkar.com/