Published on 20th of November, 2024
This year, weekly waiata sessions for parents/caregivers and tamariki at Aratupu Preschool & Whānau Hub have been a great success.
Staff have been fortunate to be able to call on the expertise of the Mission’s cultural lead, Angeline Harema-Hughes, in these sessions. With her deep knowledge of waiata and her great guitar skills, Angeline has helped to make these occasions joyous.
The aim of the waiata mornings has been twofold: to enrich Aratupu’s bicultural curriculum, and to bring whānau together to help rebuild social connections after the long period when Covid precautions made connection difficult.
The success of the waiata mornings has been immediate. Whānau support worker Deb observes: ‘We have had many heart-warming moments observing how our tamariki have responded to these sessions. Some of our tamariki with trauma do not usually join in at mat time but waiata group has been an exception.”
Kaiako Kelly agrees. “Watching the last couple of waiata mornings I can see that waiata brings everyone together and creates a sense of kotahitanga and mana. My heart was full last week as I watched whānau sit and relax and join in and connect with each other, discovering common interests and coming up with ideas (such as learning to play the guitar). How special for tamariki also to have their whānau join them in a such a relaxed way and partake in something that they themselves love.”
