Māori Pathways 2027

The Māori pathways at Ōrewa College will include the Taipari Rumaki programme for Years 7 and 8, Kapa Haka, Te Ao Haka, Te Reo Māori, Whakairo, Te Au o Tai leadership, and the development of Rumaki and Reorua pathways for Years 9–13. Together, these kaupapa are designed to strengthen ākonga identity, language, culture, belonging, leadership and educational success, while providing a clear pathway through the college.

Iwi Support

Ōrewa College is located within the rohe of Ngāti Rango and Ngāti Manuhiri. We acknowledge and honour their enduring connection to the whenua by supporting ākonga to learn about the histories, kōrero tuku iho and mātauranga of this area. Working alongside local iwi helps ensure this knowledge is shared and authentically throughout our programmes and curriculum. This relationship supports authentic learning and helps ensure local knowledge is incorporated respectfully into programme design and delivery.

Y7 & Y8 Rumaki programme

Taipari

Taipari is a Year 7 & 8 kaupapa where the primary medium of instruction is Te Reo Māori. Our rumaki classes are designed for tamariki who thrive in a Māori-medium environment, while still having access to core English-medium learning, such as Reading, Writing and Mathematics. Rumaki ākonga will also take part in the Year 7 and Year 8 programmes, and will still have access to school opportunities, such as sporting, cultural, leadership and extracurricular activities.

The rumaki programme is open to learners at different stages of their te reo Māori journey, and a high level of language proficiency is not required for initial entry.

In 2027, the programme will operate as stand-alone Year 7 and Year 8 classes.

Class sizes are reduced when compared to English Medium classes.

Through the Rumaki & Reorua pathway, ākonga will:

• strengthen their confidence and ability in te reo Māori
• develop a strong sense of identity, whakapapa and culture
• deepen their understanding of tikanga and mātauranga Māori
• receive support to achieve academically and succeed in NCEA
• build leadership, responsibility and confidence
• feel connected, valued and supported within the kura

The pathway aims to develop confident, capable and culturally grounded ākonga.

All classes in our Māori Pathway from Years 7–10 operate at reduced student-to-teacher ratios. This allows kaiako to maximise opportunities for language acquisition through targeted teaching, meaningful conversations, and regular one-on-one support

TAIPARI Y7

TAIPARI Y8

Kaiako - Ke’arn Peters

Year 9 - Year 13

Senior College Pathways

From 2027, the college is developing a connected pathway that enables ākonga to continue learning through te reo Māori and within kaupapa Māori beyond Taipari (Y7 & Y8). The intended pathway includes an extension of Rumaki at Year 9, a Māori pathway at Year 10, and a Reorua (bilingual) pathway across Years 11 to 13. Senior course details, NCEA options and the Year 13 continuation will be added once confirmed.

RUMAKI Y9

Form Teacher - Huia King

If your child opts for Sports Pathway, they will then do a full year with no choice and class PE. It will replace the Hauora and Choice timetabled slots.

Māori Pathway Y10

Form Teacher - Whetu Rutene

If your child opts for Sports Pathway, they will then do a full year with no choice and class PE. It will replace the Hauora and Choice timetabled slots.

NCEA at a glance

1. 10 numeracy credits
2. 10 literacy credits
3. 10 numeracy & 10 literacy credits from level 1
4. 60 level 2 credits
5. 5 reading / 5 writing credits at level 2 or 3
6. 20 credits from level 2
7. 60 level 3 credits
8. University Entrance - 14 level 3 credits from 3 different UE approved subjects. These need to come from Achievement Standards not Unit standards.

Achievement standards assess curriculum learning and may be graded Achieved, Merit or Excellence. Unit standards assess specific knowledge or practical skills and are usually graded Achieved or Not Achieved.

Both can provide credits towards NCEA. However, students planning to attend university must also meet University Entrance requirements, including NCEA Level 3 and 14 credits in each of three approved subjects. These approved subjects are generally assessed through achievement standards, so careful course selection is important.

Reorua vs Rumaki

The distinction between Rumaki and Reorua is based on the proportion of the timetable taught through te reo Māori. In a Rumaki pathway, at least 80% of learning is delivered through te reo Māori (Level 1). In a Reorua pathway, between 30% and 80% of learning is delivered through te reo Māori (Levels 2–4).

Year 11 - Year 13

Reorua wānanga Pathway

Bilingual Pathway Y11 - 13

Form Teachers - Kata Simpkins, Haimona Koziarski & Mark Terei

The bilingual pathway will follow a wānanga-based model, with students from Years 11–13 learning together in combined classes supported by two kaiako.

To be eligible for the Reorua pathway, students must take Te Reo Māori and Te Reo Pākehā, as compulsory subjects, and select at least one additional course from the options listed below. Students who are not enrolled in the Reorua wānanga may still attend individual classes during the allocated timetable slot. Te Reo has to be taken prior to Y12 to be eligible for entry in Y12 & Y13.

Students will have the ability to choose up to 3 other courses outside of the pathway in their available lines.

APPLICATION

Students who are not currently enrolled in the Taipari Rumaki Programme may apply to join the Years 7–9 Rumaki pathway.

Students who are Year 10 in 2027 at Ōrewa College may apply for the Māori Pathway subject package, which includes Te Reo Māori and a choice of Māori-focused learning options.

Students who wish to join the Y10 pathway & Senior (Y11-Y13) Reorua Wānanga must complete an expression of interest with their whānau to receive a Google form for an interview. New to school applicants will go through the school enrolment process.

All year level applications will be followed by a hui with the student and whānau to discuss the pathway, subject selections, learning goals and programme expectations.

Applicants in our Māori pathways programmes must be willing to:

• Uphold the tikanga and values of the programme
• Commit to attending Māori kaupapa as part of the programme (whakatau, pōwhiri, hui)
• Contribute positively to the wānanga, kura and wider Māori kaupapa
• Wear the correct Ōrewa College uniform at all times and represent the Reorua Wānanga with pride.
• Have high attendance in school and attend regular hui alongside whānau

Placement in the Senior Reorua Wānanga & Rumaki classes will be confirmed once the student, whānau and school agree that the pathway is appropriate and that the expectations for participation are understood.

OUT OF ZONE

Ōrewa College has an enrolment zone. Students who live within the school’s home zone are entitled to enrol at Ōrewa College.

Taipari is recognised as an approved MOE special programme within the Ōrewa College enrolment scheme. This means out-of-zone students may apply for entry into Taipari through the special programme priority process, where places are available.

Acceptance into Taipari is acceptance into the Māori pathway/special programme. It is not a general out-of-zone enrolment pathway into Ōrewa College.

Out-of-zone applications will be considered against the special programme criteria, including the student’s level of Te Reo Māori, previous Māori-medium learning or exposure to Te Reo Māori, whānau commitment to bilingual and Māori education, and the student’s ability and willingness to participate positively in the kaupapa.

Before placement is confirmed, all applicants and whānau will take part in a hui (interview) with the school to discuss the pathway, programme expectations, language learning, tikanga, attendance, subject commitments and long-term goals.

For out-of-zone students, acceptance is specifically into Taipari as an approved special programme. If an out-of-zone student or whānau later chooses to withdraw from Taipari, or the student is no longer part of the programme, the school will work with the whānau and seek guidance, where required, to determine the student’s ongoing enrolment position in line with the Ōrewa College enrolment scheme.

Whānau are encouraged to discuss any questions about in-zone or out-of-zone enrolment with the school before applying.

CONTACTS

Haimona Koziarski
[email protected]

Kata Simpkins
[email protected]