Baby steps closer to a bicultural New Zealand
Hamilton’s Claudelands Early Education Centre is putting its winnings from the Genesis Energy Māori Language Week competition to good use, buying resources for its children.
One of the oldest childcare centres in Hamilton is putting its winnings from the Genesis Energy Māori Language Week competition to good use, buying resources for its children.
As one of two winners, Claudelands Early Education Centre received four sets of Schoolgen books written in both English and Māori, Māori language posters/resources from Te Taura Whiri (Māori Language Commission), and $418 to go towards Māori language resources.
So far, the centre has purchased Māori myths and legends stories for the children, who are aged 3 months to 5 years.
“We also want to use the grant to increase our whanau knowledge of tikanga purchasing taonga for the centre,” says centre manager Kirsty Burridge Amyes. “We plan to purchase piupiu and a korowai to give more meaning to our poi, taiaha and rakau that the tamariki love.”
“This allows us to continue and extend our commitment to providing the best possible education for our tamariki and furthering the journey to a bi-cultural New Zealand.”
Their win came after they were nominated by Genesis employee Jen Scott, a parent at the centre. Genesis Energy’s Māori language week committee chose to embrace this year’s theme of “Whāngaihia te reo Māori ki ngā mātua” (“Nurture the language in parents”) by opening a competition for employees to nominate a kōhanga, daycare, or kindergarten of their choice to win a te reo prize pack.
“Our Māori language week committee decided to extend this beyond its employees and proactively seek to foster and grow te reo within our early childhood community.” says Genesis Energy’s Public Affairs manager, Richard Gordon.
“The prize of books and funds towards Māori language resources will enable the children to have a positive exposure to te reo Māori, and encourage them to learn and be comfortable using te reo in everyday life.”
