NZTC resource supports teachers with te reo Māori teaching and learning

Almost seven years after its launch, the college’s Te Reo Māori: He taonga mō ā tātou mokopuna (He Taonga), continues to be a huge support for te reo Māori teaching and learning in the ECE sector.

Released in 2016, He Taonga was developed by NZTC as part of its commitment to biculturalism and bilingualism, providing practical support for students and teachers as they engage with te reo Māori.

ECE students are gifted their own copy when they enrol with the college to support them with weaving the language and culture into their daily practice with children.

The extensive colour resource features beginner words, pronunciation support and key phrases, as well as everyday examples of the language including numbers, colours and shapes.

The term ‘taonga’ means ‘treasure’, and for many students and graduates the resource offers an invaluable opportunity to increase confidence in the language, ensuring te reo Māori not only survives but thrives.

Originally from China, Graduate Diploma in Teaching (ECE) graduate, Jiawen Meng, treasures He Taonga, which she says she regularly referred to throughout her studies with NZTC.

“He Taonga is fantastic as it systematically encompasses every basic aspect of te reo in a clear and simple way, with some wonderful templates that can be used directly in teaching. For someone who is from another country, having access to a resource like this to support my learning is extremely valuable.”

Drawing inspiration from He Taonga, Jiawen enjoys implementing te reo Māori into her centre in a range of creative ways.

“We sing Māori songs, play games with tī rākau (Māori sticks), dance with poi (a traditional ball on a cord) and celebrate significant events such as Matariki (Māori New Year).

“I noticed that we needed more physical resources too, so I also developed my own flash cards to practice Māori phrases with the children.”

To find out more about He Taonga, click HERE