Tō mātou haerenga

In 2017, prior to starting their family, Kahurangi Stone (nee Watene -  Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Maru) and Wiremu Stone (Ngāti Wai, Ngāi Tahu) made the decision to start on their Te Reo haerenga with the simple desire to raise their future tamariki with te reo Māori as the language of their home and whānau.

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In 2019, with two tamariki they relocated to Kaikōura and realised there were limited opportunities for their tamariki to be immersed in te reo and te ao Māori. This realisation led to the inception of Kōrero Mai.

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With a background in Health and Environmental Science; focussing on Language Revitalisation and Acquasition and a Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Teaching, Kahurangi has combined both passions – hauora and education – into creating meaningful learning spaces that strengthen language, identity, and wellbeing.

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The last 5 years have seen us; expand our immediate whānau with 2 more tamariki, plan, create & facilitate, bilingual and immersion community whānau groups, whānau reo wānanga and community te reo classes in two levels (Level 3 & 4). We are now looking at expanding into providing community financial literacy classes. ​

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As the doors of the Puna opened in Feb 2024, Fiona Watene (nee Weti Te Tauwhara - Waikato, Tainui) came on board as the Education Director to work more intimately within the Puna and quality assurance. With her Masters in Educational Leadership and 20 + years of knowledge and experience in the Education sector (ECE, Primary, Intermediate and University) as well as raising her mokopuna with te reo as the home language. We are excited to see the heights Kōrero Mai will reach next!

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The Puna is now in the 2nd year of operations and we eagerly invite more tamariki and whānau to join us on this journey of connection, reconnection, learning, reclaiming, and normalising te reo Māori, while valuing bilingualism and continual learning.

 

Nau mai! Haere mai! Be a part of this opportunity & making history! We're excited 

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