Te Huarahi Ako - Nā Regan Balzer

The people in this painting are surrounded by the significant landmarks of  their area: maunga, awa, roto, moana, whenua, and marae. These represent the intergenerational knowledge that is integral to a strengths-based approach to the development and growth of a Māori learner. 

In the artwork, a learner is accompanied and supported by their whānau as they enter huarahi ako – the learning pathway that will guide them through Te Whare Tapu o te Ngākau Māori. As the learner and their whānau pass through the tomokanga and onto the marae ātea, they are greeted by a recent graduate. 

The graduate has passed through their own learning journey within Te Whare Tapu o te Ngākau Māori and experienced the transformation that results from being immersed in their culture and celebrating all that it means to be Māori. Now, they stand proud in front of the sacred whare.  Everything they have learnt and experienced has become part of who they are, and they are part of its history. 

The graduate wears a korowai – each feather a contribution from someone who has supported them on their journey. The korowai is a reminder of that support and its ongoing nature. It is from this strong foundation that the graduate can move confidently into the world. 

As the new learner approaches, they see what they can aspire to be through this period of learning and growth within Te Whare Tapu o te Ngākau  Māori. Their whānau also see and share this vision, and they will feel safe in allowing their precious family member to embark upon a huarahi ako of their own. 

Nā Regan Balzer

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Nga Mihi