Teachers' notes
He mihi
Whakataka te hau ki te uru,
Whakataka te hau ki te tonga.
Kia mākinakina ki uta,
Kia mātaratara ki tai,
E hī ake ana te atākura he tio,
He huka, he hauhunga.
Haumi e! Hui e! Tāiki e!
Cease the winds from the west,
Cease the winds from the south.
Let the breeze blow over the land,
Let the red-tipped dawn come,
With a sharpened air,
A touch of frost, a promise of a glorious day.
Join! Gather! Intertwine!
E ngā iwi, e ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā whānau kei roto i ngā kura auraki huri noa i te motu, tēnā rā koutou katoa. Tēnā hoki koutou e whai koha nei, e hāpai nei i tēnei kaupapa whakahirahira, arā, ko te reo Māori, te reo tangata whenua o Aotearoa. E kore e mutu ngā mihi. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
Ki a koutou hoki ngā tumuaki me ngā kaiako kei ngā kura. Ka nui te mihi. Ko te mea hoki, ka riro mā koutou tēnei kaupapa e hāpai, e whakatinana i te taha o ngā ākonga. Kia kaha tonu koutou. Engari, kaua e wareware ki te toro atu ki ngā whānau Māori o te hapori o te kura, me ngā iwi o te rohe e tū nei tō koutou kura. Ki te aha? Ki te ārahi i ngā wāhi e tika ana, ki te āwhina, ki te tautoko hoki. Mā te mahi tahi, ka tutuki ai. Tēnā koutou katoa.
He reo tupu, he reo ora. He reo ora, he reo tupu.
All people, all authorities, all voices, all communities associated with English medium schools. Greetings to you all. Greetings also to all those people who contribute to the teaching and learning of Māori language within your schools. Words can not express our thoughts for your valuable contribution. Greetings, greetings once again to you all.
It is important to acknowledge the principals and staff within all schools. For it is you who are responsible for supporting and delivering the Māori language programmes in your schools. Thank you once again. We would encourage all schools to establish a relationship with their local Māori community and iwi organisations in order to seek guidance and support in the delivery of these programmes. Only through working together, can any shared aspirations be achieved. Greetings to you all.
A growing language is a living language. A living language is a growing language.