BACK

Te Kāreti o Rangitoto takes pride in ensuring our Māori and Pasifika students express themselves and their culture while working toward academic goals. We ensure students have access to cultural knowledge, activities, role models, and academic support and mentoring.

Māori & Pasifika Student Support

The Māori and Pasifika Achievement Committee, led by Kairuruku & Kahui Ako In School Leader Davina Dean, organises events, groups, activities, career and academic workshops, pastoral care and academic mentoring, as well as school-wide professional development for teachers to ensure our rangatahi ma experience high expectations alongside culturally responsive pedagogy.  At Rangitoto College, students experience:

  • Māori and Pasifika Whānau Hui every term
  • Annual Māori & Pasifika Success Evening 
  • Māori & Pasifika Senior Student Leadership
  • Pasifika Club – Tuesday lunchtimes
  • Career and Academic Mentoring
  • University visits & programmes 
  • Language week celebrations: Māori, Samoan and Tongan etc
  • Manaakitanga events & pōwhiri
  • Guest speakers – Māori and Pasifika role models
  • Kōrero Māori sessions with staff
  • Matariki Sunrise Breakfast  
  • Official Rangitoto ie faitaga (formal wear)

Pīpīwharauroa Festival 2023

Our kura was delighted with our second annual Pīpīwharauroa Festival. The event was an incredible culmination of a nine-week learning journey of mātauranga Māori. We welcomed our Kāhui Ako schools, @aucklandmuseum, and @whakaatamaori to enjoy a variety of performances, art, and market stalls.

Ngā mihi to all participants and our sponsors Paramount Services Ltd, @asbbank, and @newworldbrownsbay. We look forward to welcoming our Kāhui Ako community back in 2024!

Whāia te iti kahurangi. Ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei.
Pursue excellence. Should you stumble, let it be to a lofty mountain.
-
Davina Dean
English Teacher, Kahui Ako In School Leader & Kairuruku, Deans

Kia ora e ngā whānau! Ko Ngāti-Pakeha toku iwi. With mixed English and European ancestry, I whakapapa to te waka Caduceus which arrived from Cornwall in 1859. I have worked with our Māori and Pasifika students since returning from maternity leave in 2013. I undertook a year of full immersion te reo Māori at Te Herenga Waka o Orewa marae and have a Master of Educational Leadership from AUT, and I am humbly still learning on both fronts. My goal is to provide frameworks so our students and staff experience a culture where Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the culture and knowledge of our Pacific people is honoured. I work with students to develop leadership capacity and provide academic and career mentoring.

Diana Tuisalega
Art Teacher & Visual Arts Promotional Support, Visual Arts

Talofa lava. I am a part of the Māori and Pasifika team here at Rangitoto College. I help run the Pasifika club, where we gather together to promote our culture in the school through collaborative murals, performances, food and celebrating language weeks. I am passionate about our young people embracing their culture and thriving to achieve their best.

Jessica Langley
Art

As an Art teacher and proud tangata whenua, I am currently learning Te Reo Māori with Te Wananga o Aotearoa. I help run the Pasifika club, support kapa haka and am passionate about celebrating Māori and Pasifika culture and achievement.

Carmelita Maletino
English

Talofa Lava! I am half Samoan, half Tahitian and part of Pasifika Club here at school. As an English teacher, the academic achievement of our Māori and Pasifika students has always been a priority of mine, thus, seeing our students shine in all elements of their schooling life naturally entailed that I fell in love with academic tutoring. Plus, you can never go wrong with the combination of books and food – this has always been my recipe for success.