Te Ao Māori

The Nelson region (Te Tauihu o te Waka-a-Māui) has a rich Māori history, shaped by the eight iwi who established their rohe (tribal areas) here: Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Rārua, Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui, and Ngāti Tama ki Te Tauihu. These iwi are the tangata whenua of Te Tauihu, each with deep connections to the land, sea, and traditions of the region.

Today, Nelson College is proud to have over 100 students who can trace their whakapapa back to one or more of these iwi. This strong Māori presence within our school reflects the enduring legacy of the first peoples of Te Tauihu. Through te reo Māori, tikanga, kapa haka, and whānau support, we continue to honour and celebrate this heritage, ensuring that Māori identity and traditions remain a vital part of Nelson College life.

Kapa haka is a vibrant and growing part of life at Nelson College, providing students with a powerful way to connect with te reo Māori, tikanga, and the performing arts. Our combined kapa haka group, Ngā Aho Rau, brings together students from Nelson College and Nelson College for Girls, fostering a strong sense of unity, discipline, and cultural pride.

Ngā Aho Rau is dedicated to excellence in performance and maintaining a kaupapa Māori environment at both schools. The group meets regularly throughout the year, refining their skills in waiata, haka, poi, and moteatea. Their commitment has led to outstanding achievements in regional kapa haka competitions, where they have gained recognition for their precision, passion, and mana.

Beyond competition, kapa haka plays an important role in school events, pōwhiri, and community gatherings, ensuring that Māori culture remains a visible and celebrated part of Nelson College life. Whether students join to compete or simply to grow their confidence and cultural understanding, Ngā Aho Rau provides a welcoming space for all who wish to be part of this rich tradition.

Old boy Tom Alesana (2000 – 2004) has been the major driver in bringing the two kura back as a force on the secondary school kapa haka scene. He has pulled a tutorship team together of mainly old boys and girls to support the growth at these two kura. In 2025 we aim to have two combined teams competing at the regional competitions.

The uniform was designed by Tom in 2021.

Kī-o-Rahi is an exciting, fast-paced team sport that is growing in popularity both in New Zealand and internationally. Played on a circular field, the game involves strategic movement around seven pou (poles) and a tupu (central target), with players passing and scoring using a kī (ball).

Rooted in Te Ao Māori, Kī-o-Rahi provides a unique opportunity for students to engage with Māori culture, language, and identity through sport. It is a game of agility, teamwork, and strategy—qualities that align with the values of Nelson College. As interest in Kī-o-Rahi spreads beyond New Zealand to countries like Australia, France, and the United States, Nelson College is proud to promote and support this dynamic sport.

Nelson College competes in the TSS senior and junior regionals each year with the hope of gaining titles in the various divisions. We combine with NCG to create mixed teams at both senior and junior competitions.

At Nelson College, we take pride in fostering strong leadership that reflects the diversity and heritage of our school community. In 2000, we introduced the role of Raukura – Māori Head Boy, followed by the establishment of the Manukura – Pasifika Head Boy position in 2017. These leadership roles acknowledge and empower young men of Māori and Pasifika descent, providing them with a platform to represent and inspire their peers.

Each year, we honour our Māori and Pasifika Head Boys with a taonga—Tui whakatere iti and Māui o te Moana Nui a Kiwa—a symbol of leadership, strength, and cultural identity. Through these roles, Nelson College continues to celebrate the rich traditions and contributions of Māori and Pasifika students, reinforcing our commitment to leadership, inclusion, and excellence.

Te Ara Poutama, our home, stands as a cornerstone for Māori and Pasifika students at Nelson College. Officially opened in 2011, this whare (house of learning) is a space where students can connect with Te Reo me ōna tikanga (Māori language and customs), develop leadership, and engage in cultural and academic pursuits. Activities such as Waka Ama, Manu Kōrero, Kapa Haka, and our academic programmes continue to flourish within this special space, providing a strong foundation for future generations.

A significant feature of our whare is the Kōruru, a carved representation of our school values: Honesty, Loyalty, and Wisdom. Crafted by master carver James Rickard (Ngāti Koata), the Kōruru symbolises guidance and strength, ensuring that Te Ara Poutama remains a source of knowledge and cultural identity for our students.

Through the dedication of past and present leaders, Te Ara Poutama continues to thrive, offering a place of belonging, growth, and excellence for Māori and Pasifika students at Nelson College.

The central front pou is the symbolism of Te Ara Poutama or the pathway to the heavens. At the top of this is the kōruru that links us to the school values. Leading down the sides from the kōruru is the maihi that incorporates in its design the splitting of the atom, rugby and the hammerhead shark that represents strength and determination. The amo (upright pou) on either side of the whare were gifted to local iwi to complete. Ngāti Tama hold the amo on the left side (facing the whare) and the other amo is yet to be completed. The raparapa (fingers) at the end of the maihi have representations of the music department and basketball. Ron Kelly (Te Whakatōhea) oversaw and completed much of this work with the support of James Rickard.

Ngā Manu Kōrero is one of the most prestigious events on the Māori education calendar, providing a platform for secondary students to develop confidence and skill in both English and te reo Māori oratory. Originally established in 1965 as the Korimako Contest, the competition was founded to encourage fluency in spoken English among Māori students. Over the years, it has evolved to embrace and uplift te reo Māori, ensuring that the language remains a living, dynamic treasure for future generations.

This competition is more than just a speech contest—it is a celebration of identity, culture, and the power of the spoken word. Each year, students stand before their peers, whānau, and judges to express their views, lay down challenges, and inspire their audiences with eloquence and passion. Schools from across Aotearoa take part, and the Māori language sections are open to all students, reinforcing the commitment to fostering and normalising te reo Māori in everyday life.

In 2024, Nelson College proudly competed at the regional Ngā Manu Kōrero event hosted by Marlborough Girls’ College. Our representatives, Nixon Marfell (Junior English), Luca Hippolite (Senior English – 1st in Impromptu Speech), and Ezra Hawkins (Senior Māori – 3rd Overall), performed with distinction. While we didn’t claim overall titles that year, our strong haka and waiata left a lasting impression—further cementing our reputation for passion and presence.

Looking ahead, Nelson College is honoured to be the host school for the 2025 Regional Ngā Manu Kōrero competition. We look forward to welcoming speakers and whānau from across the region, continuing the legacy of this incredible kaupapa, and celebrating the beauty and power of Māori oratory.

The Nelson College leadership team asked for a school haka to be composed around 2007. At that time it was becoming very common for secondary schools around the country to have their own haka. Initially to be learned by the Junior school through the Te Ao Kori programme, managed by the Physical Education department. Over a three-year-cycle the haka was taught to all Juniors and then through the house system.

The Nelson College haka was created from an earlier iteration composed by former Te Reo Māori teacher Hone Nuku-Tarawhiti. Matua Wayne used a small part of that haka to integrate into something new that had meaning for students and staff of Nelson College.

In teaching good sportsmanship, gracious winning and losing, we used our haka as an outlet to remind ourselves of our school motto and key principles as a guide to what we value and the type of young men we aspire to produce from Nelson College.

The haka encourages our boys to prepare themselves for the event at which it is being performed. It is a reminder to the performers of who we are and what we represent. It asks them to be strong physically, spiritually and mentally. The haka espouses that we of Nelson College are pillars of our community upholding the mana of our institution and to do it with humility and integrity. Also, one of the Nelson College mottos is preparing our young men for their future as they embark on the next part of their lives.

Some of memorable performances include the opening of Te Ara Poutama in 2011. At the anniversary of the first game of rugby in New Zealand and numerous full school performances for first XV matches on the front field. The haka is now a part of the Nelson College House competition.