Week 7
Kōhine Oranga-tiratanga
Kōhine acknowledging our team and the kaupapa with a closing waiata
Wānanga Whakamutunga
As we conclude this term's wānanga series, we celebrate what the kōhine have learned and who they are becoming. Their words and actions throughout the programme have reflected growing confidence, strengthened connections, and a deeper appreciation of their own gifts and potential. Though sometimes a little reluctant, the girls have stepped out of their comfort zone on several occasions and have reminded us that all rates of progress are to be celebrated. The final wānanga served as an opportunity to acknowledge that every kōhine carries her own unique strengths, and that when nurtured within a supportive environment, those strengths can flourish.
He kai kei aku ringa. He whai kei aku ringa.
He poi kei aku ringa. He toi kei aku ringa.
He oro kei aku ringa. He rongoā kei aku ringa.
He poi kei aku ringa. He toi kei aku ringa.
He oro kei aku ringa. He rongoā kei aku ringa.
He Oranga-tiratanga kei aku ringa
I hold the power and potential to thrive, in my hands
I hold the power and potential to thrive, in my hands
"I have really enjoyed seeing the kōhine get to know each other and in the process, come out of their shells and allow their personalities to shine" - Puāwai (Facilitator)
ORANGA-TIRATANGA IN PRACTICE
E raka te mauī.
E raka te matau.
Adapt with the left hand,
be skillful with the right
E raka te matau.
Adapt with the left hand,
be skillful with the right
Our morning session was all about hand-eye coordination. Whether it was trying to create intricate geometric shapes with mahi whai, or testing our wrist dexterity and coordination with poi - it was about observing, trying, adapting, and developing a skill. Some of the girls were already masters of whai or poi, but there were a few of us that struggled. What was cool to see was how we could use the collective skills from the group to support those of us who were about to give up. When kōhine can work with their hands to overcome a challenge, it reminds them of their capability to learn, adapt, and to thrive. When the world is moving so fast and information is so fleeting, experiencing that process of clumsily acquiring a skill can be really uncomfortable. But when mastery starts to arrive, so do the smiles!
E rere ana i ngā tai.
E tau ana ki te aio.
Ride the tides.
Settle into the calm
E tau ana ki te aio.
Ride the tides.
Settle into the calm
We observed some powerful learnings from our final wānanga, where kōhine (and facilitators alike) persevered through challenging activities. The poi and whai session reminded us that learning is not linear, it takes a little persistence and patience. These activities were an embodying of one of our whakatauakī that teaches us about complexity. Environments, tasks, relationships, and our own internal worlds can feel tough at times, but by learning to master riding the tides, we are also able to settle in and receive the gift of the calm.
Our facilitators really wanted to acknowledge Olive, this week. Despite finding the poi a bit of a challenge, with little support from others, she persevered and was able to celebrate some small wins. Later she wove her first putiputi harakeke, and we could see the sense of accomplishment on her face! Olive didn’t give up and showed that ‘becoming’ is a process. Sometimes it requires us to dig deep and be willing to just try.
Our facilitators really wanted to acknowledge Olive, this week. Despite finding the poi a bit of a challenge, with little support from others, she persevered and was able to celebrate some small wins. Later she wove her first putiputi harakeke, and we could see the sense of accomplishment on her face! Olive didn’t give up and showed that ‘becoming’ is a process. Sometimes it requires us to dig deep and be willing to just try.
Nā Māhuika i huna te ahi ki te rākau;
nā Māui i rapu, i whakakā anō
Māhuika concealed the fire within the trees;
Māui sought it out and kindled it anew
nā Māui i rapu, i whakakā anō
Māhuika concealed the fire within the trees;
Māui sought it out and kindled it anew
Our rongoā Māori session offered the kōhine a contemporary exploration of healing and wellbeing--drawing on Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho (ancestral wisdom). Guided by themes from Wisdom of the Four Winds, kōhine were introduced to the idea that knowledge and healing can emerge through our experiences, including the difficult parts of our lives. The session explored how fear, anger, hurt and other experiences we may consider negative can also hold opportunities for learning, particularly when we approach them with awareness, aroha and reflection.
Led by Whaea Tracey, the girls created a collective incense as a koha back to the pou. Later we would burn some of the incense in a closing ritual, gifting a final word describing our time together, this term. While we are still working out what the biggest impact of our time together was, these words are a beautiful indication how simple it can be to activate the ancestral wisdom within kōhine:
"Wisdom, Creative, Aroha, Rehia – Joy, Love, Belonging, Wānanga, Kotahitanga, Inclusive,
Mana kōhine Mana wāhine, Sacred, Knowledge, Courage, Wellbeing, Oranga-tiratanga!"
Led by Whaea Tracey, the girls created a collective incense as a koha back to the pou. Later we would burn some of the incense in a closing ritual, gifting a final word describing our time together, this term. While we are still working out what the biggest impact of our time together was, these words are a beautiful indication how simple it can be to activate the ancestral wisdom within kōhine:
"Wisdom, Creative, Aroha, Rehia – Joy, Love, Belonging, Wānanga, Kotahitanga, Inclusive,
Mana kōhine Mana wāhine, Sacred, Knowledge, Courage, Wellbeing, Oranga-tiratanga!"
E koekoe te tūī,
e ketekete te kākā,
e kūkū te kererū
The Tūī chatters,
the Kākā gabbles,
the wood pigeon coos.
e ketekete te kākā,
e kūkū te kererū
The Tūī chatters,
the Kākā gabbles,
the wood pigeon coos.
Each kōhine has their own voice, their own way of moving through the world, and their own contribution to make. Throughout our wānanga, kōhine have been encouraged to recognise and celebrate the uniqueness they each bring to the collective. Through kōrero, waiata, creativity, reflection, and connection, we have witnessed kōhine expressing themselves, sharing their perspectives, and supporting one another.
Whaea Nikki brought her collection of taonga pūoro for us to explore our unique sounds. After a little experimentation and finding the oro that resonated with each of us, we performed a collective koha of sound. Led by Mia and Kahu P, who opened with karanga and our pao, we each layered sounds of Pūtōrino, Poi Āwhiowhio, Porotiti, Pūrerehua, Hue, and more. What resulted was a creative collaborative oro that represented Oranga-tiratanga - our innate ability to create something beautiful out of what resources we have available.
Oranga-tiratanga is...
The closing wānanga provided an opportunity to reflect on the many ways that Oranga-tiratanga can be expressed. Some kōhine led through action, others through encouragement, creativity, humour, perseverance, or kindness. These diverse strengths created a vibrant collective that we were proud to bear witness to. As mātua, whānau, and a kura - you have some incredible kōhine with huge potential. We are honoured to have shared this kaupapa with them and see them take ownership of the collective.
We look forward to sharing our learnings with you in the near future....
We look forward to sharing our learnings with you in the near future....