E aku nui, e aku rahi, e aku whakatamarahi ki te rangi, nei rā Te Whānau Whāriki e mihi nei.
We are now taking enrolments for 2021. We welcome visits.

About Te Whānau Whāriki 

Troy Mills Rōpū leader (Years 0-2), Rohi Leah(Years 3-4), Moana Lucre-Hedger (Years 5-6)
Waiataahua Evans (Kaiawhina)

Te Whānau Whāriki is a full immersion Rumaki Māori unit based at Richmond Road School (Te Kura o Ritimana). It was developed in response to a strong desire in the community for education in Te Reo Māori and has been going strong for over 33 years.

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Our Goal
The goal of Te Whānau Whāriki is to nurture tamariki so that when they leave Ritimana they have an appreciation and understanding of Māori tikanga, a high standard of te reo fluency and they are confident in – and identify with – their cultural heritage.

Our Location
Richmond Road School is in a central location, just off Ponsonby Road in Auckland City. We also have the Ritimana Kōhanga Reo onsite.

Outside the classroom

Te Whānau Whāriki participate in a range of te reo Māori events where whānau can nohotahi, kaitahi and whakangāhautahi. These include

• Ngā Manu Kōrero
• Puni Reo Poitarawhiti
• Matariki with Te Whānau Puāwaitanga  (New Windsor) and Te Whānau Pounamu (Kowhai)
• Kapa Haka  – we are one of a few primary schools that enter into competitive competitions
• Biannual noho marae.

In addition to participating in te reo Māori events, our tamariki mix with the Samoa, French and Kiwi Connections rōpū in wider school activities such as jump jam, sports, music, our school production, Ritimana Matariki events and celebrations of other heritage languages.

Whānau Involvement

Our kaiako are strongly supported by whānau and the wider Ritimana community – Richmond Road School has recognised the role of Māori culture, tikanga and acknowledges its own commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi by actively supporting the development and growth of Te Whānau Whāriki and Māori in other units at the school.
You as a parent can get involved by

• Coming along to whānau hui
• Going on school trips
• Speaking te reo Māori with your tamariki
• Attending parent teacher child conferences
• Helping in the classroom as needed
• Contributing to fundraising with ideas, time or resources via the Richmond Road PTA.

In The Classroom

Our kaiako educate our tamariki in te reo Māori with a kaupapa Māori focus through following the Te Marautanga o Aotearoa curriculum. This ensures that tamariki can competently navigate their own culture and language and are equal scholastically to any other child in New Zealand mainstream education.
Our language unit currently has three ruma, three kaiako and one kaiawhina.

​A typical day in Te Whānau Whāriki goes something like this
08.30 Tamariki start arriving
09.00 Opening karakia and waiata
09.30 Te Reo Matatini – literacy
11.00 Kai iti
11.30 Pāngarau
12.30 Extra curricular
13.00 Kai nui
13.50 Kaupapa
14.55 Closing karakia
15.00 School day ends

Communication Between Kura and Whānau

Our regular whānau hui are the best way to catch up on Te Whānau Whāriki news from the kaiako and Board of Trustee representatives. These hui also offer an opportunity to meet other whānau, discuss kaupapa and understand curriculum initiatives that the kaiako are undertaking.
There are regular Richmond Road School newsletters which have important dates and interesting stories about what our tamariki have been doing

Year 6 Graduation

At the end of the sixth year, our tauira celebrate their time at Ritimana with a graduation party. This is organised by the whānau of the graduates and all whānau are welcome to attend. This is one event not to be missed.

What Parents Say About Te Whānau Whāriki

Why Our Tamariki Like Te Whānau Whāriki

“Ritimana has allowed my child to take huge steps forward in his knowledge of te reo Māori and te ao Māori. The very supportive teachers, welcoming whānau environment and tuakana-teina relationship among the students, helped him transition from kindy to Māori immersion without any stress”.

“The tamariki are very lucky to have three young and energetic teachers who they really like and who do a wonderful job. They also have a Nanny who provides amazing kaumatua input and support to the unit as well as classic nanny TLC”.
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“E rumakina ana ngā tamariki i te aroha o te whānau, i te puna o Te Reo Māori anō hoki. Koia pū ngā aho e raranga nei i Te Whānau Whāriki kia ita. E whai ana ngā tamariki i te pae tawhiti o te reo, o te mātauranga, o te ahurea hoki kia tata”.

“It’s very diverse.”
“Ka whakaako i ngā mea pai ki a koe.”
“Tino pai te hākinakina me te pāngarau.”
“Ka hanga I ngā mea.”
“Nga kaiako!”

You're Invited

Te Whānau Whāriki warmly invites any prospective tamaiti and their whānau to attend an Open Day at our unique kura.
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Contact Matua Troy to organise a visit and see what we have to offer!
troy@richmondroad.school.nz