Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School's Special Pepeha
Learning about our school's special Māori identity Discovering the land and water around us Understanding our cultural connections
What is a Pepeha?
A special way to introduce ourselves in Māori It tells us about the land, water and people we belong to Every place has its own special pepeha It helps us feel connected to our home
Our School's Pepeha
Ko Te Puke o Tara te maunga Ko Wairoa te awa Ko Maraetai te moana Ko Sancta Maria te kura
Ko Te Puke o Tara te maunga - Our Mountain
Te Puke o Tara means 'the hill of Tara' It was a special volcanic hill Long ago, Māori people lived there Now we remember this important place
The Story of Te Puke o Tara
Ko Wairoa te awa - Our River
Wairoa means 'long water' It flows from the Hunua Ranges The river helped people travel long ago It has beautiful waterfalls called Hunua Falls
Let's Follow the River!
Trace the path of Wairoa River with your finger Start at the Hunua Ranges Follow it to the sea at Maraetai Imagine traveling by waka!
Ko Maraetai te moana - Our Sea
Maraetai is our special sea It's part of the beautiful Hauraki Gulf Māori people fished and gathered kai (food) here We can still visit this beach today!
Our Pepeha Connections
{"left":"Te Puke o Tara - our mountain gave us a high place to see far\nWairoa - our river gave us fresh water and travel","right":"Maraetai - our sea gave us food and connection to other places\nSancta Maria - our school brings us all together"}
Think and Share
Which part of our pepeha do you find most interesting? Have you been to any of these special places? How do you feel connected to our school? What makes Sancta Maria special to you?
Create Your Own Connection
Draw your favorite part of our pepeha Write one word about how it makes you feel Share with a friend Display your artwork proudly!
Remembering Our Pepeha
Our pepeha tells the story of where we belong Te Puke o Tara, Wairoa, and Maraetai are part of us Sancta Maria School connects us all together We are proud of our special place in New Zealand