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Tuia te rangi e tū nei, tuia te papa e takoto nei. Tuia ngā muka here tāngata ki te māramatanga e whiti ana, kia puta ki te whai ao, ki te ao mārama! Tihei mauri ora!
Hamilton Girls’ High School is committed to kaupapa Māori.
Mana Forbes along with the kura whaikairo o Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in Te Awamutu carved the whakairo that adorn our marae, Te Ao Mārama.
Within are tributes to many wāhine rangatira important to the Tainui region, including Kuotepo, Apakura and Mahinaarangi. Te Ao Mārama pays homeage to the creation story, whilst acknowledging the importance of schooling to gain a greater understanding of the world. Te Ao Mārama has been a hub of our commitment to Māori language, culture and identity for many years, and is located in the heart of our kura.
At Hamilton Girls’ High School we offer special character Whānau Māori classes. These classes uphold tikanga Māori in a nurturing and safe environment. They are well supported by the Māori department and have a focus to provide a culturally responsive approach to pastoral care.
Te Maurea Whiritoi is the combined kapa haka of Hamilton Boys’ and Girls’ High School. This group supports local iwi and the Kīngitanga at events such as Poukai and Koroneihana. Te Maurea Whiritoi has a proud legacy of competitive success, regionally and nationally, exemplified by qualifying as finalists for every national competition since 2016.
Mātauranga Māori is a compulsory subject for all Year 9 students’ who study the special place of Māori language and culture in the unique identity of Aotearoa. By completing this course, all students will become empowered to confidently participate as an active New Zealand citizen in contexts that involve the use of reo and tikanga Māori.
Students are supported to participate in the Tainui Ngā Manu Kōrero Speech Competitions. The school is proud of our recent successes, as podium finishes are common place for our speakers.
Hamilton Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools combine to form Kī O Rahi teams that have strong support from whānau of both kura. A committed development programme has been the foundation of recent success, including winning regional and national championships.
Waka Ama is a sport that is popular amongst our students. The school supports our tauira to compete in the National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships, whether they are new to the sport or experienced veterans. The school is proud of the national podium placings our crews have achieved over the years.
Our Māori mentor on staff provides another layer of pastoral support for our Māori students, so that they are well-supported to fulfil their academic aspirations.
Our Māori Department features staff who are active in our Māori community, with a deep understanding of reo and tikanga Māori. The department leads three subject areas - Mātauranga Māori (Year 9), Te Reo Māori (Year 9-13) and Te Ao Haka (Year 11-13). Te Ao Haka and Te Reo Māori are designed as pathways to University Entrance.
Bicultural Identity Empowerment inspires all our staff with the guiding principles to drive teaching and learning that is culturally responsive for Māori. It is a concept built on the premise that all New Zealanders can take pride in the bicultural foundations of this nation’s identity.