Chris Selwyn is a Ponsonby resident and the Tumuaki of Nga Puna O Waiorea, the immersion Te Reo Maori kura within Western Springs College.
What was Ponsonby like then?
Ponsonby was very different back then. It was a strongly Polynesian neighbourhood. Some of school neighbours, like Betty Wark, Ani Tia, Pare McIntyre and the Ransfield whanau, ran half-way houses for street kids. And mid-morning we often heard the drums start up across the valley from Richmond Road School.
When I was finishing my college years at St Pauls, the Kohanga Reo was established at Ritimana (Richmond Road School). This area has always felt like a cultural hub.
Tell me about when you joined Nga Puna O Waiorea.
Lilli Tuioti was the Principal (the first female Samoan Principal) when I was asked to join Western Springs College by Achlee Fong, the legendary founder of the bilingual unit. It has always felt like a dynamic and innovative school, at the cutting edges of the way of doing things. In addition to Lilli, and the marae on site, the board has always had a strong social conscious, encouraging change, growth and development.
What achievements are you most proud of?
Whanau engagement is a big one. Our kura culture expects whanau to ask questions about the learning journey of their tamariki. I love being a conduit – whanau don’t always know how to ask questions about what students are doing in algebra or science and we can help them frame those questions.
And I’m very proud of the academic achievements of our students. We have always taken the view that our Maori and Pasifika students can do as well as their non-Maori peers, and the students have responded by living up to those expectations.
What about language revitalisation?
Of course, te reo Maori is a passion of mine and I love seeing that passion reflected in the hearts of our teachers, students and whanau. There is a lot of mahi still required but seeing our language and culture being used, celebrated and valued, are important milestones.
And you took on a lead role when Te Kahui Ako O Waitemata was formed?
All the local kura were operating in their own silos before the Kahui Ako formed. It has been wonderful how it has brought us together to create a clear pathway for students in our area. And it has been heartening to see how the Maori-medium kura have been recognised and valued by all the English-medium schools.
What has having new buildings meant for Waiorea?
The physical home for the kura does make a difference. I noticed this as a student at St Columba that the building itself contributed to the connection everyone experienced there because of its unusual school layout, with the large hall in the middle and classrooms opening off its walls. The new flexible spaces at Western Springs College | Nga Puna O Waiorea are creating exceptional learning opportunities.
We are delighted that our award-winning kapa haka students now have a Whare Tapere (performance space) that befits their achievements. I think it will nurture many more winning kapa haka teams in generations to come.
How are you feeling about the future for your school?
There is roll growth on the horizon which presents many exciting opportunities for us. It also raises plenty of questions about how we continue to deliver high-quality education, offering the best opportunities for students. But we are up for that, just as we have always been up for stretching ourselves and setting new standards in education.