Recently, kaiako from across 18 of our 20 Enviroschools kindergartens came together for a deeply enriching day of Professional Learning and Development (PLD) with Whaea Aniata Mackie. Held at the serene and spiritually resonant Hihiaua Cultural Centre, this gathering was more than a workshop - it was a wānanga of the heart, a reconnection to te taiao, and a celebration of mātauranga Māori shared with aroha and integrity.
The Enviroschools kaupapa is rooted in sustainability, connection, and action. It empowers tamariki, kaiako, and communities to live in harmony with te taiao, nurturing both people and place. Through this kaupapa, our kindergartens embrace the values of kaitiakitanga, participation, and respect for the natural world - guiding tamariki to become active citizens who care for Papatūānuku in meaningful and enduring ways.
From the moment we arrived, the wairua of Hihiaua embraced us - a calm, nurturing energy that made it the perfect space for this mahi. Whaea Ani held space with gentle strength and deep wairua, inviting us to slow down, listen, and reconnect with te taiao and each other.
Through her kōrero, waiata, and wānanga, she gifted us he taonga tuku iho - ancestral knowledge passed down through generations. Her stories, drawn from a lifetime of tending māra, reflected the living pulse of mātauranga Māori and the sacred relationships that sustain life.
She reminded us that māra kai is not just about growing food - it is about growing identity, connection, and understanding. Our kindergartens can be places where tamariki experience this depth too, learning through touch, taste, and story, guided by the rhythms of te taiao and the maramataka.
Our day with Whaea Ani centred around Hua Parakore, a kaupapa Māori framework for growing kai developed by Te Waka Kai Ora (National Māori Organics Authority). Hua Parakore is not only a growing system but also an Indigenous validation and verification scheme, a way for growers to tell their kaupapa Māori story of food production. It ensures kai is grown in balance with all elements of nature, traceable, uncontaminated, and created in harmony with wairua and mauri intact.
Rooted in the infinite richness and wisdom of whānau and hapū, Hua Parakore is grounded in seven interconnected mātāpono (principles): Whakapapa, Wairua, Mana, Māramatanga, Mauri, Te Ao Tūroa and Whai Mutunga Kore. These mātāpono remind us that growing kai is not just a physical act, it is a spiritual, cultural, and relational practice.
In time, the seven mātāpono of Hua Parakore will bloom in our kindergartens like a living garden of colour and connection:
• Waiporoporo – Whakapapa: grounding us in ancestral knowledge
• Kahurangi – Wairua: bringing calm and spiritual strength
• Kākāriki – Mana: nurturing life, autonomy, and responsibility
• Kōwhai – Māramatanga: illuminating understanding and potential
• Whero – Mauri: pulsing with vitality and life force
• Karaka – Te Ao Tūroa: honouring nature’s warmth and abundance
• Mā – Whai Mutunga Kore: holding the infinite joy and purity of spirit
These colours and values will weave through our māra kai, becoming a living story of Hua Parakore for tamariki, kaiako, and whānau alike.
As our day came to a close, each kaiako carried something unique - a spark of inspiration, a renewed sense of purpose, and a deepened commitment to strengthening our Enviroschools kaupapa through authentic te ao Māori practice.
We are profoundly grateful to Whaea Ani for her generosity, wisdom, and aroha. This day reminded us that transformation begins when we reconnect - to ourselves, to each other, and to the living systems that sustain us all.
Nā mātou o Te Kura Kōhungahunga o Te Taitokerau (Northland Kindergarten Association), ka nui te mihi ki a koe, e Whaea Ani. He taonga koe ki te ao. Thank you for enriching our journey with your light and mātauranga.
