Mihimihi 
Acknowledgements
​
Ka titiro ake au ki ngā maunga rangatira o tēnei rohe, ki a Maungakiekie, ki a Maungawhau, ki a Ōwairaka 
Ka aro atu au ki te moana marino o Te Waitematā
Ka mihi atu au ki te waka tūpuna, ki a Māhuhu-ki-te-rangi,
ki ngā tāngata whenua o tēnei takiwā arā ko Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei 
Ka tau ōku waewae ki te whenua nei, te wāhi i tū ai Te Rimu Tahi
Ko te Kura o Ritimana tōku āhuru mōwai
Tēnā koutou katoa
E aku nui, e aku rahi, e aku whakatamarahi ki te rangi, nei rā a Te Whānau Whāriki e mihi nei.
We welcome visits.

Mō Te Whānau Whāriki
​About Te Whānau Whāriki 

​Matua Troy Mills -  Rōpū Leader and (Pōtiki- New Entrants to Year 1)
Whaea Rohi Leah - (Pōtiki- New Entrants to Year 1)
Whaea Isire Olsen - (Years 2 - 3)
Kōkā  Hanamere - (Years 4 - 6)
Whaea Waiataahua Evans - 0.2 Release

​Elysia Crossan  - Kaiāwhina

​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.

Mātārere Whakatairanga
Pamphlet 

Tō Mātou Whāinga
Our Goal

Kia tū motuhake, tū pakari te tamaiti i tōna ake tuakiritanga, i tōna Māoritanga anō hoki. 

The goal of Te Whānau Whāriki is to support tamariki so that when they leave Ritimana they have an appreciation and understanding of tikanga Māori and te reo Māori and they can comfortably express themselves in te reo and when practising tikanga. Our kura and kaiako believe in child-centred learning, where the tamaiti can grow in a nurturing environment that affirms their Māoritanga.

Kei Hea Mātou?
​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.

Ngā Kaupapa Kei Waho i Te Akomanga
Outside The Classroom

Te Whānau Whāriki participate in a range of te reo Māori events where whānau can noho tahi, kai tahi and ngahau tahi. These include:
  • Kapa Haka  – we are one of a few primary schools that enter into competitive competitions
  • Biannual Noho Marae
Our tamariki also participate in a range of wider school activities such as jump jam, sports, music, school production, Ritimana Matariki events and celebrations of other heritage languages alongside Mua i Malae (Samoan unit), L'Archipel (French unit), and Kiwi Connection (English Medium unit).

Ngā Haepapa o Ngā Whānau 
Whānau Commitment

Our kaiako are strongly supported by whānau and the wider Ritimana community – here are some of the commitments that whānau are encouraged to make:

  • Must attend Hui ā Whānau
  • Helping out on school trips as kaitiaki
  • Commitment to growing your reo as a whānau
  • Attending parent, teacher, child conferences
  • Helping in the classroom as needed
  • Contributing to fundraising with ideas, time or resources via the Richmond Road PTA.

Ngā Kōrero a Ngā Mātua me Ngā Whānau
What Parents Say About 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”.
​
“E rumakina ana ngā tamariki ki te aroha o te whānau, ki 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”.

"My tama joined TWW in Y4 and in that time I’ve seen him grow to love being at kura, and often bring his learning interests home. It’s been especially heartening to see that his comfort and use of te reo has soared. This is a credit to the ngākau māhaki of his kaiako and all the tamariki that quickly welcomed him into this whānau and uniquely nurturing environment. He whānau hūmārie a TWW, he mauri tau, he mauri ora e rangona. Hei mātua, ka koa te ngākau te tuku i taku tamaiti ki tēnei kura, he kaha nō ōna kaiako te poipoi i te rongomaiwhiti o ia tamaiti."

He Aha Kei Tua?
Pathways Beyond Te Whānau Whāriki

When our ākonga near the end of year 6, many of them go on to attend Kura Takawaenga (Intermediate Schools) that are close to Te Kura o Ritimana. Two pathways that our ākonga often follow are Kōwhai Intermediate and Pasadena Intermediate. Both of these kura offer Rumaki Reo programmes. 

Nau mai, Haere mai
You're Invited

Te Whānau Whāriki warmly invites any prospective tamariki and their whānau to visit our unique kura.
​
Contact Matua Troy to organise a visit and see what we have to offer!
[email protected]
Ngā Mātāpono
Principles
Te Wheke - Nā Rose Pere
Whānau
Waiora
Wairuatanga
Hinengaro
Whanaungatanga
Mauri
Mana ake
Hā a kui mā, a koro mā
Whatumanawa 
​Taha Tinana
Picture
Te Marautanga
 
​
Our kaiako educate our tamariki in te reo Māori with a kaupapa Māori focus through Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. This ensures that tamariki can competently navigate their own culture and language.

It is also important to note that we only teach in te reo Māori. There is no english taught at any time from year 0 through to year 6.

​A typical day in Te Whānau Whāriki goes something like this:

08.30 Tamariki start arriving
09.00 Opening karakia 
09.15 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 hui ā whānau 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.

Te Rā Whakanui i Ngā Ākonga Tau Ono
​Year 6 Graduation

At the end of their sixth year, our tauira celebrate their time at Ritimana with a graduation ceremony and 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.

Ngā Whakaaro o Ngā Tamariki
Why Our Tamariki Like Te Whānau Whāriki

“Ka whakaako i ngā mea pai ki a koe.”
“Tino pai te hākinakina me te pāngarau.”
“Ka hanga i ngā mea.”
“Ngā kaiako!”
Māra
Garden
Richmond Road School has a wonderful māra for the tamariki to explore and learn. Using their knowledge of Atua Māori and Pūtaiao, kaiako and tamariki have the perfect resource on their doorstep to contribute to and take care of our whenua and taiao. 
​
Enrolment Scheme Information 2025
File Size: 98 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
​Before your child starts school, or once your child’s place in one of our special programmes has been confirmed, please bring the following completed documents to the office:
​
  • Birth Certificate or Passport
  • Immunisation history card (from Plunket book)
  • Proof of address (recent power or phone bill)
  • Complete our ICT Agreement (link to document here). Click ‘open’ to create your own copy.
  • Hearing and Vision Consent form (link to document here) Click 'open' to create your own copy.
  • Caregiver Consent form for school trips (link to document here).
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At our school office:
  • Pick up a stationery list
  • Confirm the date that your child will start
  • Organise dates for your child’s pre-school visits (usually two during the month before starting school for the first time)