Breakthrough Hauora Programme for Tamariki in Schools receives $4.5m Funding for Expansion
Sport NZ has allocated $4.5 million in funding to expand a successful pilot programme aimed at improving the well-being of tamariki (children) in schools. The programme, called Tapu Waekura, was launched three years ago and received positive feedback from both students and teachers. It was delivered to 34 schools and 192 students across the country, targeting seven different regions.
Tapu Waekura focuses on improving hauora (well-being) for kura kaupapa (Māori language immersion schools) and wharekura (secondary schools) students through promoting healthy eating and physical activity. The pilot programme’s success has inspired its expansion and a rebranding with a new name: Mātaiao. The person leading the programme, Darrio Penetito-Hemara from Toi Tangata, explains that the new name highlights the importance of nurturing a thriving environment and reconnecting learners with Māori language and environmental knowledge.
The driving force behind the programme is the taiao, or environment. Penetito-Hemara emphasizes the significance of the environment as a source of knowledge, stating, There’s a saying that goes ‘he mātāmua te taiao, he mātauranga hoki tō te taiao’. So our tuakana is the environment, and realizing those knowledge systems made this name change more appropriate.
Tanya Wilson, Sport NZ’s group manager kahui rautaki Māori, welcomes the expansion of Mātaiao and highlights the opportunities it will provide for tamariki in Aotearoa. Mātaiao aims to assist kura in integrating the principles of Atua Matua, a Māori health framework, into their strategies, planning, and teaching practices to achieve cultural, educational, and physical benefits for the students.
Penetito-Hemara states that the $4.5 million in funding will support communities across the country in rolling out wānanga (learning experiences) and initiatives to help rangatahi (youth) with their health plans and activities. The programme will continue hosting wānanga, creating tools, and developing a culturally appropriate system and kaupapa (principles) to embed into Aotearoa.
Dr. Wayne Ngata, Director of Ngā Pākura Ltd, who has collaborated closely with kura during the pilot phase, explains that Mātaiao enables kaiako (teachers) to observe, engage with, and learn from different environmental phenomena and incorporate them into their curriculum. He adds, The Mātaiao kaupapa exemplifies our dedication to Māori-led solutions, and our collaboration with Sport NZ will ensure the approach is authentically grounded in te ao Māori. We are excited to continue moving towards a future where hauora through te ao Māori is not only prioritized but deeply embedded in the fabric of our society.
With the expansion and rebranding of the programme, there is hope for a brighter future for tamariki in schools across Aotearoa. The funds provided by Sport NZ will go a long way in supporting the efforts of communities to improve the well-being of their rangatahi, fostering healthy habits and cultivating a stronger connection with the environment and Māori language.
