OHS students have been sharing language, song and dance as part of our celebration of Cook Islands Māori Language Week.

With around 77 OHS students identifying Cook Islands Māori as one of their ethnicities, the week provided an important opportunity to recognise and celebrate Cook Islands Māori language and culture within our school community.

A highlight of the celebrations was a student showcase held in the Hall today. Students from across the school came together to perform for their peers, sharing Cook Islands Māori culture through language, song and dance. Many of the students involved had dedicated time after school to rehearsing and preparing for the showcase, and their efforts were warmly supported by a large audience.

The celebrations also extended into our Dance programme, where Jayda Tearikimana (Year 11) shared her knowledge of Cook Islands dance with our Level 1, 2 and 3 Dance classes. It was a valuable opportunity for students to learn directly from one another and experience different cultural dance traditions.

Student-led cultural learning continued throughout the week, with Isabella Cathro (Year 12) teaching Niuean dance and Aiveni Fahina (Year 11) sharing Tongan dance with our students.

One phrase shared during the week was: Tei iakoe te mana!You’ve got this!

Thank you to all the students who contributed to the week, whether through performing, teaching, sharing their language and culture, or supporting their peers. Cook Islands Māori Language Week was a meaningful celebration of the cultures represented within our OHS community.