Te Aratika Academy

02/02/2026

“Ko te taiao te ūkaipō me te pā whakawairua o tāua, o te tangata.”
“Our natural environment provides our physical sustenance as well as the spiritual aspect of our existence”

Last year we started a kaupapa to build floating wetlands and today we launched these on Lake Runanga (World Wetlands Day).
Made with primarily natural resources these floating wetlands are intended to reduce algae and improve water quality.
Massive mihi to all those who share mātauranga with our taiohi so they can learn how to be kaitiaki of our taiao.

24/12/2025

“He iti tangata e tupu – he iti toki e iti tonu”
“People grow, adzes remain small – people are more valuable than material possessions”

Wishing you all a Mēri Kirihimete e te whānau.
Remembering all of our loved ones that aren’t with us right now and thinking of those who champion us, our journey, our taiohi and Te Aratika Whānau Whānui. Thank you!
Be blessed and safe this Christmas.

Ngā mihi aroha
Na Ngā Pou o Te Aratika.

13/11/2025

Grateful to be able to have these amazing opportunities for our taiohi. An awesome experience for our Nukutaurua who have been learning how to sail waka taurua 🫶🏼

05/11/2025

Tūngia te ururua kia tupu whakaritorito te tupu o te harakeke
Clear away the undergrowth to make way for the new shoots.

Pīki mihi to Kohupatiki Marae, Ngati Kahungunu, Operation Patiki and in particular Ani McGuire for an awesome day of teaching our taiohi to clear the undergrowth of the Pā Harakeke and how to harvest in prep for our floating wetland mahi.
We love working in Te Taiao!

Mangateretere School

marae

24/09/2025

Ko au te awa
Ko te awa ko au…

Bringing Wetlands to Life in Hawke’s Bay 💧🌱

Our Hawke’s Bay Coordinator has been busy building miniature floating wetlands — creative, hands-on models that show how these natural systems work.

Last week, they showcased the demo at Rūnanga Marae in Ōhiti, sparking kōrero with pupils from Te Aratika Academy and Mangateretere Kura about how wetlands filter water, create habitat for wildlife, and strengthen the health of our waterways.

These bite-sized wetlands help kura groups, marae, and catchment communities see how a simple idea can make a big impact on our environment.

💬 What do you think, could a floating wetland work in your awa or lake?

A huge thanks to Westpac NZ for backing this project and helping bring the real wetlands to life! 💚




Te Kura o Mangateretere
Runanga Marae- 2024
Te Aratika Academy

14/08/2025

E tangi ana e te Mareikura a whaea Mona, haere, haere, haere atu rā,
Moe mai ki te māriretanga o te atua, moe mai, moe mai, moe mai rā

It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Whaea Mona Stewart, Tumuaki of Te Kura o Mangateretere.
A wahine toa who staunchly advocated for and fiercely loved her taiohi, hapori and iwi.

We will join Te Kura o Mangateretere , Te Kōhanga Reo o Whakatu, Prima Volta, RTLB, MOE, Launch Pad, and the Hapori o Whakatu, tomorrow by travelling to Ōmahu Marae to pay our respects and show our aroha and support to Whaea Mona and her whānau during this difficult time.

Details from our Mangateretere whanau - Matua Howie & Whaea Keren (on behalf of the BOT)

9:00am – Meet at Mangateretere Kura for karakia
9:20am – Depart kura
9:45am – Arrive at Ōmahu Marae, ready to go on
10:00am – Pōwhiri onto the marae

We warmly welcome and encourage all parents, caregivers, and whānau to join us in supporting Whaea Mona’s whānau and honouring her legacy.