Ō Rangaranga - Ngātira Marae

Around 60 Oranga Tamariki staff gathered at Ngātira marae in Putāruru recently for the inaugural 3-day Ō Rangaranga cultural capability conference.

Te Hāpai Ō Principal Advisor Louis Armstrong says the conference has given staff the opportunity to maximise their skills in the Māori language and tikanga (protocols) so they can hold meaningful dialogue with tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.

“Te Reo Māori is intrinsically linked to Māori culture, traditions and history. When children feel connected to their culture and language, it boosts their self-esteem and confidence,” says Louis.

Up to 40 staff sat in a full immersion Te Reo Māori learning environment while the remaining 20 sat in a bilingual environment.  

Regional Learning Advisor and student (tauira) at Ō Rangaranga, Tom Heaphy says knowing Te Reo Māori allows children to feel a stronger sense of belonging within their whānau, community, and the wider Māori world. 

“I think conferences like this give our tangata tiriti and kaimahi tauiwi an opportunity to better understand a Māori way of life, the whakapapa and a te ao Māori worldview, so we’re going to be much better at working with tamariki and their whānau,” Tom says.  

Take a look at what the tauira experienced at Ō Rangaranga below.