LATEST STORIES
Waitangi Day
This year Best Start Manukau tamariki decided to celebrate Waitangi Day by learning all about it from the beginning of the week.
Children started the week/ wiki by listening to the story behind the treaty. Along with his friends, they learned that a long time ago, in the year 1840, New Zealand's most important document was signed. It was recognized as the Treaty of Waitangi/ Te Tiriti O Waitangi. This document was an agreement signed by the representatives of the British Crown and the Maori tribal groups. The signing of the document meant that the Maori granted rights to the British Crown to govern and to continue settling the country with British migrants. It also meant that the Maori could keep their tribal authority over their lands and resources and were granted the full rights of British citizenship/ raraunga.
Children were so surprised to see the attires that Kira had brought for them to observe as the story was being told and so they asked if they could wear it and play pretend games. "Of course you can try them on tamariki!" said Kira. "Would you like to act out the story as you wear these costumes?" asked Kira. "Yes!' Children exclaimed with excitement. The tamariki then wore the costumes and practiced their drama skills as Kira read out the story/ kÅrero. Somewhere in between the process tamariki also helped in creating their very own treaty for their own room. This demonstrated that children have gained an understanding of the Treaty and wanted to make one for themselves with their own agreement rules. Children had so much fun practicing and at the end of the week, they acted the story out for the final time and signed their very own treaty document. We now have our own Tiriti O Te Kiwi and children have a book with their pictures which shows their journey towards designing and signing their very own treaty. Ka Pai tamariki