Te reo Māori Alphabet Magnets created to support students to excel

As part of the college’s commitment to leading early childhood education in New Zealand, NZTC has launched te reo Māori alphabet magnets featuring the 10 consonants and 5 vowels of Te Pū Taka Māori (The Māori alphabet).

The 15 magnets have been created in alignment with Aotearoa New Zealand’s bicultural early childhood education curriculum, Te Whāriki. Bright and colourful images designed to encourage learning and spark curiosity are a key feature of this educational resource. 

As part of a teaching and learning program, this taonga evokes the opportunity to practise and develop the use of te reo Māori within early childhood environments in engaging and meaningful ways.

NZTC is honoured to gift sets of alphabet magnets to early childhood centres throughout New Zealand in the weeks ahead, supporting its students to be graduates of excellence and sharing the educational opportunities available for ECE professionals and those considering entering the sector.

We are excited to share these new and authentic resources to support te reo Māori learning journeys of the early childhood sector in natural and everyday ways,” says Chief Executive Selena Fox.

“Our VISION for the magnets is for these to sit alongside their English counterparts that we gifted a few years ago, continuing the college’s commitment to quality educational resources for children, students and teachers.

“NZTC is looking forward to seeing these special magnets in the hands of tamariki and empowering kaiako (teachers) with ideas of ways to use them in their daily practice.”

For Japanese graduate, Yuriko Ishikawa, learning about New Zealand’s unique biculturalism through te reo Māori and te ao Māori during her studies was a real highlight, and she now enjoys sharing te reo with the tamariki in her care.

“My studies inspired me and gave me a new appreciation for New Zealand’s culture and now I enjoy singing te reo Māori songs with our tamariki.

“Through my study I learnt that manaakitanga (respect and hospitality) and aroha (love and empathy) are fundamental for me and my teaching practice.”

A dedicated space on the NZTC website has been created to share an array of resources that will support teachers with ideas on how to utilise the magnets in their practice with children.

www.nztertiarycollege.ac.nz/magnets