Xmas early at kohanga reo

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 515, 7 December 1993, Page 10

Xmas early at kohanga reo

Christmas came early last week when Santa Claus paid a visit to the children of Waiouru' s Kohanga Reo. The Kohanga will break for Christmas on 10 December so last week the children, who range in age from birth to 5 years, had a celebration of their own, and had their older brothers and sisters and parents join them for a special lunch last Wednesday. The Kohanga Reo began in Waiouru in j 1 984, only a year or so after its introduction I in New Zealand. Since then the Kohanga | has grown year by year with enrolments of Iboth Pakeha and Maori children ranging this year between 14 and 20. Three full-time staff guide and supervise the children at the Kohanga from 9am to 3pm, five days per week. The aim of the Kohanga is to strengthen Maori principles within the children, espelcially through Te Reo and to that end the staff speak to the children whenever possi-

ble in Maori and encourage the children to reply likewise. Recently the Kohanga took a trip to the North Island's east coast to add to the enrichment of the children' s cultural lives. Developing a strong sense of belonging within the Whanau is also a priority at the Kohanga, said a member of staff, Shirley Rukepo. The Maori Enrichment classes being conducted at the Waiouru Primary School are now continuing to develop the kopapa introduced at Kohanga Reo. A group of around 60 people from the local TRU will also be representing the Kohanga Reo branches from this district at the World Indigenous People' s Conference to be held in Australia this Christmas. Shirley Pukepo and the Kaumatua, Jo Pohatu, both from Waiouru will be attending the conference which is designed as an exchange of methods and ideas for the mutual benefit of the worlds' indigenous populations.