Every year it is a pleasure to teach my tauira about Matariki. This kaupapa takes up most of term 2 te reo Māori years 9 & 10. This year was super special. My year 9 te reo made tukutuku panels that will be on display in our local gallery in September. After that they will be hanging in our akomanga at school. Each roopū created a panel that best describes their interpretation of matariki and what this means and how it has connected each member of their roopū. We did 3 weeks of theory, the rest od the term was dedicated to their koorero (tukutuku panel). At the completion of their panels, we celebrated Matariki on top of Maungakawa, Ngāti Hauā. The day began at 4am, Monday morning as we travelled to the top. Everything my students learnt during the term came to fruition. We had kaitahi on Maungakawa with our kaumātua, whanau members, and other teachers from my school and surrounding schools. This kaupapa was a first for our iwi and one we will keep on doing for as long as possible. We arrived back to school to present the kids tukutuku panels to the senior te reo Māori class and their pouako. This is a whole new world for our kids and was made enjoyable for them to learn a bit more of te ao Māori and te reo. As a pouako i am humbled to teach such wonderful, amazing tamariki.