Whānau Awhina

Ka hikitia has four prongs or pou that support our ākonga to succeed as Māori here at EGGS:

• Tangata Whenuatanga
• Wānanga
• Manaakitanga
• Whanaungatanga

We know that an essential component of Māori success is through providing opportunities to engage with language, identity and culture. Knowing where our ākonga come from and building on what they bring with them is important. The other essential component of Māori success is maintaining a strong partnership between the School, whānau and iwi with the student placed at the centre of that partnership.

Whānau Āwhina is an opportunity for parents and community members who are interested in supporting Māori students and in promoting tikanga and Te Reo Māori in the wider school to come together. This group is chaired by a parent and meets once a term.

Richard Nahi, our school Kaumatua, has tribal affiliation to Ngāti Whatua and has lived in the southern reaches of the Kaipara Harbour for the last 20 years. He also has tribal connections to the Hokianga and to Ngāti Paoa in the south of Hauraki.

Richard is currently a Senior Cultural Advisor for the Auckland Council where he has previously worked in supporting Governance, northern and west local boards and working to build better relationship through engaging and working with mana whenua of Tāmaki Makaurau. His current position is working in Parks Sport & Recreation and often involved monthly with iwi engagement on projects, facilitate treaty workshops and organise self-development training programs on Tikanga Māori with council management and staff through the year.