Celebrating Maori Culture In Howick, Pakuranga, Botany

2010 Koanga, the season of Spring. This season is a time to look forward to new growth, direction and positivity for our students in Howick, Pakuranga, Botany, Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) and Aotearoa (New Zealand).

The annual Koanga Spring Festival is the 21st Century celebration of Maori culture in Howick & Pakuranga, Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand, Maori and immigrant students reflect the pride we can all have in our unique Maori culture. School groups will gather at the Picton Centre in Howick Village this year to perform traditional and contemporary Maori cultural items. The standard of performance has been increasing each year as teachers and students build self confidence through experience.

Participating students within the newly named Howick Ward include primary and secondary schools from Howick, Pakuranga, Botany and Whitford. Te Roopu Awhina led by Kaitiaki Whaea Taini Drummond, is proud to be the original instigator of the Howick Pakuranga Koanga Spring Festival. Since it's beginning the participating schools have increased in number so the festival is now held over 3 nights to accommodate the 2400 participants.

The host this year is Te Roopu Awhina o Wairoa Trust. The Trust instigated the Koanga Spring Festival in 1993 and is responsible for the provision of many Maori cultural educational programmes throughout Howick and Pakuranga. If your college, primary or pre-school would like some teacher training or student programmes contact: TeRoopuAwhina@gmail.com.

Last year, the 2009 Koanga Spring Festival was held at Edgewater College. The Edgewater College was supported by Te Roopu Awhina, Maori Wardens and the Edgewater parent community. The performances, logistics, food stalls and entertainment was exceptional. Already interested schools have put forward bids to host 2011.

Howick Primary School joins the Festival for the first time. We look forward to seeing experienced students and beginners having fun.

2010 is a good time to host the Koanga Spring Festival in Howick.  Schools are looking forward to the rebuilding of the whare Torere in 2010. When this is back in operation, new and existing programmes will be able to utilise the maori cultural programmes offered there.