Marae visit
One of the best ways for your students to learn about a marae is for you to take them to visit one. Your school may already have an established relationship with a marae in your area. If this is not the case, then consider contacting one through:
- the Māori parents of some of the students at your school – particularly those who are local and who have a family connection with a local marae
- a resource teacher of Māori or an adviser
- the committee of the local marae.
It is important to involve the Māori parents in your school community, in planning and preparing for such a visit. Some procedures for visiting a marae are reasonably widespread, but the best thing to do is to ask about the local kawa.
Before the visit, teach the students how to introduce themselves, in case they are asked to do so (for example, in the wharenui during the visit). You could use the following pattern with students who are not of Māori ancestry and who are only just beginning to learn Māori :
| Maori vocabulary | English translation |
|---|---|
| Tēnā koutou. | Hello (everyone). |
| Ko ____________au/ahau. | I am __________________. |
| Nō ____________. | I am from _____________. |
| Ko ____________ taku pāpā. | ______________ is my father. |
| Ko ____________ taku māmā. | ______________ is my mother. |
| Ko ____________ taku koro. | ______________ is my grandfather. |
| Ko ____________ taku kuia. | ______________ is my grandmother. |
| Tēnā koutou katoa. | Hello to you all. |