Taku piki amokura nō tua whakarere Nō te pae ururangi, he tipua e He mana hiki nuku He mana hiki rangi Nō te pae ki tawhiti Anei tata e!
Ngāti Rangi has set a vision for our people to continue vibrantly existing in 1,000 years. Mātauranga, learning and education are critical in the realisation of this aspiration. In order to do so, we are dedicated to growing and nurturing the potential of our uri.
This requires a plan to guide us along our way. For this plan, we draw on the wisdom of our ancestors, utilise contemporary tools, and look ahead to future possibilities. It is a continuation of the journey set by our tūpuna who followed the sky, seascapes, and landmarks to chart their way from Hawaiki to Aotearoa.
This education strategy sets the plan focusing on educational pathways, opportunities and support for Ngāti Rangi.
It draws upon previous strategic documents and initiatives that include:
- Rukutia te Mana, the Ngāti Rangi Deed of Settlement of Historical Claims
- Te Ara ki te Moungaroa: the Ngāti Rangi strategic plan for 2020-2025
- Ngāti Rangi Voices of the People Report
- The Ruapehu Whānau Transformation Plan 2020
The name of this strategy derives from the waiata above by one of our Ngāti Rangi tupuna Pauro Mareikura, which came as a message of instruction to navigate the world with positivity, belief and conviction. The lyrics describe piki amokura or the illustrious feather worn by a leader as a metaphor for knowledge or a house of learning.
Its meaning and significance is further emphasised in the whakataukī, “Ko tō piki amokura nōu, ko tōku piki amokura nōku” which translates as; "Your house of learning is yours and my house of learning is mine”. This special waiata talks about the divine origin of knowledge from the beginning of time, both grounded in the land and spanning as high as the crest of the heavens. It is our role to uplift and utilise this knowledge. The waiata also reminds us, that although knowledge seems far away or inaccessible at times, it is in fact right in the palms of our own hands.
We have the answers and solutions for our people to flourish.
Our education strategy is unique to Ngāti Rangi, developed through the voices of our people. It is
the piki amokura that informs how we strengthen whānau, hapū and iwi while fostering relationships with educational providers in our region. At the same time, this strategy informs how we support the
educational endeavours of our people and contribute to our collective growth and prosperity.