Muaūpokotanga Day

An Annual Celebration of Muaūpoko Identity, Knowledge, and Whakapapa

Muaūpokotanga Day is our annual iwi‑led professional learning event, created to strengthen the relationship between Muaūpoko and the educators who teach within our rohe. This day brings together teachers, school leaders, and community partners to learn directly from Muaūpoko knowledge holders, ensuring that our stories, our whenua, and our tikanga are understood and upheld in local curriculum.  This kaupapa reflects our commitment to protecting and promoting Muaūpokotanga – the identity, values, and lived experience of Muaūpoko people.

About the Day

Muaupokotanga Day provides a full day of learning grounded in:

– Kōrero tuku iho – sharing our histories, whakapapa, and ancestral narratives
– Tikanga and reo workshops led by iwi experts
– Place‑based learning at significant sites within the Horowhenua
– Practical guidance for integrating Muaūpoko perspectives into teaching and learning
– Whakawhanaungatanga between iwi and the education sector

Participants leave with a deeper understanding of who we are, where we come from, and how our stories can be honoured in classrooms across the region.

Purpose

Muaupokotanga Day supports:

– Authentic local curriculum design
– Strong, respectful iwi–school partnerships
– Improved outcomes for Muaūpoko tamariki and whānau
– Greater cultural capability across the education workforce
– The protection and celebration of Muaūpoko identity

This event is one of the ways we ensure that teaching in our rohe reflects the voices, knowledge, and aspirations of mana whenua.

Who Attends

– Teachers and leaders from schools across the Horowhenua
– Members of the Horowhenua Kāhui Ako
– Muaūpoko iwi representatives, kaumātua, and cultural experts
– Education partners committed to strengthening local curriculum

A Living Expression of Muaūpokotanga

Muaūpokotanga Day is more than a professional development event – it is a celebration of who we are as Muaūpoko. It is an opportunity to share our stories in our own voice, build meaningful relationships, and ensure that our tamariki see their identity reflected and respected in their learning every day.