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//In developing a schoolwide implementation plan for teaching and learning te reo Māori, one of the first and most vital steps, is to develop an essence statement for te reo Māori. This is essential, because schools need to have a shared vision and a shared understanding of why the school is offering the opportunity for students to acquire knowledge of te reo Māori me ōna tikanga.//
 * The importance of learning te reo Māori. **

//This notion is reflective of the principles of The New Zealand Curriculum, as the foundations of curriculum decision making, specifically the 'Treaty of Waitangi Principle' which is:// // The curriculum acknowledges the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, and the bicultural foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand. All students have the opportunity to acquire knowledge of te reo Māori me ōna tikanga. // // [Page 9, The New Zealand Curriculum, 2007] //

**Examples of essence statements** //To help you to kickstart the process of forming a shared vision and your own essence statement for te reo Māori, to set out your (and / or your school's) beliefs about what is important and desirable in your school curriculum, find following some examples that teachers have willingly shared with me, these in some cases are a work in progress, and are yet to be refined and finalised://

//** Thank you Kerrin **// It is our responsibility to value, respect and nurture te reo māori and tikanga Māori; to enable all students to understand Māori language and culture and make connections of their own to Aotearoa, in all present, past and furture generations.

//** Thank you Shelley and Viv **// As New Zealanders we have the right and the responsibility to walk in both worlds of Aotearoa New Zealand. As a school and with parents, we have the task to prepare our children for Aoteaoa New Zealand of the 21st Century.

//**Thank you Anne and Jeannie**// XXX School values and respects te reo Maori me ōna tikanga. We have a responsibility to all students to promote the unique culture of language of Aotearoa and to develop students own personal identity as New Zealanders.

//**Thank you Libby**// We value te reo Māori and tikanga Māori at xxx School, and believe that learning te reo Māori is about understanding the inherent connection between language and culture: language is embedded in culture and also expresses culture. We aim to take cultural considerations into account so that students and staff at our school are aware that te reo Māori, and tikanga Māori are inseparable and there is value in teaching and learning te reo Māori as one of the three official languages, and as the indigenous language of New Zealand. We believe it is essential to honour our nation’s dual heritage and the metacognitive benefits of learning a subsequent language and about another culture.

//**Thank you Mel, Debbie and Sue**// // As New Zealanders we have the right and responsibility to walk in both worlds of Aotearoa-New Zealand. // B y reason of our common human dignity and our redemption in Christ we have the right to: Our te reo me ngā tikanga Māori programme will endeavour to develop an awareness of Te Mana o Aotearoa (the uniqueness of New Zealand’s heritage and provide the means of fostering better cultural understandings of it consistent with the Treaty of Waitangi. Tikanga Māori is about understanding the inherent connection between language and culture: language is embedded in culture and is the medium used to express the culture
 * our ancestral and cultural heritage
 * have our traditions, religious values, language customs, myths and art forms used in education in faith
 * express Christ’s teaching in terms of our own culture.

**Some useful tips for developing a shared vision:** **Understanding what a vision statement is:** A vision statement briefly describes the future the school community sees for itself in the context of teaching and learning te reo Māori, and what students who are confident, connected, actively involved, lifelong learners are expected to be like. // "A shared vision is not an idea ... it is rather a force in people’s hearts ... at its simplest level, a shared vision is the answer to the question ‘what do we want to create?" (Peter Senge) //

** Rationalising learning outcomes: ** What are the learning priorities or targets for our students learning te reo Māori?

** Quality teaching of te reo Māori (pedagogy): ** What are the characteristics of effective language (te reo Māori) teaching that we choose to uphold in our school?

** School ownership and relevance to our own uniqueness: ** How will we ensure our te reo Māori programme is suited to our students, our school and our school community?

** Iwi, Whānau and Community involvement: ** What strategies will we use to give every encouragement and opportunity to our school iwi, school whānau and school community to engage with their children’s te reo Māori learning?