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Strengthening Biculturalism
Kia Ora, and welcome to the EduKids Manukau Open Day Celebration.
The morning started out strong with our young learners preparing for their performances, with our tama in their puipui and our hine in their dresses with their poi. Soon after our parents and whanau as well as our manuhiri from First Steps Papatoetoe arrived. The celebration commenced with a welcoming speech to our manuhiri after which our tamariki tautoko with lovely waiata for our manuhiri that we had been working on including Tu Tera mai nga iwi and E re re taku poi. Our manuhiri from First Steps reciprocated. This exchange reflected kotahitanga as we formed unity and whanaungatanga through making connections and reinforcing our sense of belonging within our community.
Throughout the day we enjoyed listening to storytelling of Maori legends such as Tane and the Stars and Tane and his children by Whaea Anne, learning to weave harakeke putiputi with Whaea Ruth, a photo booth to capture our new memories and some active movement waiata. We also explored our creativity through making our own Maori Koru Patterns and learning the symbolism behind these. This time was filled with Mohiotanga as we focused on ako, sharing our skills and developing new strategies for further learning. To conclude our festivities we had a shared Hakari, celebratory feast that was enjoyed by all. This helps our children to develop a greater sense of Manaakitanga which stems from aroha, sharing, working collaboratively and enjoying kai with other