Blue Mountain College - Activities & Subjects

Tikanga Māori

‘He taonga ngā reo kātoa’
All languages should be treasured

Te Reo Māori Programme

At Blue Mountain College the Te Reo Māori programme is offered and taught at Years 8 and 9. The kaiako (teacher) is Mrs. Dianne Erickson.

The Year 8 course is taught for the full year and the course content includes learning about tikanga maori/ māori traditions, myths and legends, kemu (games), waiata (songs), hakas (dances), Kupu Hou (new words) and basic sentence structure.

The Year 9 course is taught for half of the year and builds on the knowledge students learnt in Year 8.

Every student learns a Mihi, which is a description of who they are and where they come from. The Mihi is extended in Year 9, once the students have more confidence and knowledge of kupu and sentence structures.

Students at Blue Mountain College are encouraged to extend and further develop their Te Reo Māori by taking the subject further, through the Correspondence School, alongside support from the College.

Kapa Haka

The college has tutors come in to take Kapa Haka. This group is passionate about learning and performing Māori waiata, poi and haka. They have competed in Kapa Haka competitions within the Otago/Southland region.

Some helpful kupu (words)

Kia Ora                                              Hello/Hi/Thank you
Ka kite ano!                                       See you again!
Kei te pehea koe?                             How are you feeling?
Kei te pai au.                                     I am good
Wananei!                                           Awesome!