When Kaikohe whānau Clara and Manga Aperahama-Kopa realised there was no school in the Kaikohe area that could cater for their son, Manga, who was born with a rare brain disorder, they turned the family home into a te reo immersion ECE where he and other tama ariki would be able to learn alongside tamariki. Dame Cindy and Dr Davies visited the now hugely successful kura this morning, to meet Manga (affectionately known as Mungzy) and his friends at Te Puna Reo o Manga Tangaroa. The students put on a concert to welcome Dame Cindy and Dr Davies, before showing giving a tour of the kura, where tamariki Māori of all abilities can find a place to learn. The kura has since gained nation-wide attention, with their own show ‘Super Kura’ on Whakaata Māori.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies next visited the Peru Packhouse – a Mahinga Kai specialising in growing peruperu potatoes. To determine when to plant and harvest the peruperu, Moana Timoko and her partner Tahu Warmington use ngā taka o te marama, which is a traditional Māori lunar calendar. Five years ago, they started with 1000 peruperu seeds, now they have around three million in their seed bank. They encourage the wider community to come and work in the mahinga kai to learn these traditional gardening techniques, and to take home some peruperu for themselves.
Their work extends beyond kai, too. Tahu is a self-described “mad scientist”, and has turned the peruperu into gas for the motorbikes they use on-site, into spirits for drinking, and into alcohol disinfectant.
The last stop for Dame Cindy and Dr Davies in Kaikohekohe was to visit the Te Kohekohe Community Housing development, which was built in partnership between Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi and the council. One of the main drivers for this development came from Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi, who were treating patients for respiratory illnesses caused by cold, damp homes. To treat the cause, they partnered with Far North Holdings, a trading and asset management branch of the Far North Council, to build 60 warm and affordable homes for people in need. Dame Cindy and Dr Davies met with some tenants at Te Kohekohe, and heard about the future plans for further safe, affordable housing in the area.
For more images, click here: Te Tai Tokerau Regional Visit Day Three media gallery.