CrestClean sponsors Te Akatea 2024 Hui Taumata in support of Māori leadership in schools
Te Akatea is the New Zealand Māori Principals’ Association – an independent organisation dedicated to advocating for Māori education. They offer support and professional development opportunities to Māori Kaiako (teachers) and Tumuaki (principals), helping them navigate challenges and achieve educational excellence. Te Akatea also helps emerging Kaiako and Tumuaki grow and discover new opportunities within the New Zealand education system.
Te Akatea strives to improve the educational outcomes of Māori students by fostering strong cultural identity, empowering school leadership, and advocating for a more equitable education system.
This year’s Te Akatea Hui Taumata conference attracted over 300 attendees from schools and CrestClean was proud to sponsor the event. Dunedin Regional Master Franchisees, Tony and Nicky Kramers, attended the conference, showing their support for strengthening Māori leadership in New Zealand schools.
With a packed agenda, the hui featured renowned speakers from New Zealand and Australia, all passionate about enhancing educational outcomes for Māori students.
CrestClean has sponsored the Te Akatea in the past. After chatting with a customer in Oamaru who’s involved with the organisation, Tony felt connected to what it represents and sought to have CrestClean sponsor the annual Hui Taumata once again.
“It’s awesome to be back with Te Akatea,” he says.
“The Kaupapa is close to my heart, so it was a good opportunity to talk to some of the Kai Mahi and Tumuaki from the schools at a different level.”
Being on a Te Reo Māori journey himself, Tony was invited to speak at the event. He delivered the first half of his korero in Te Reo, focusing on thanking those in the room for the important work they do.
“My korero was Mihi to the people in the room the people that have past and the surrounding iwi, thanking them for their work and their support of the Kaupapa,” he says.
Tony was grateful for the opportunity to speak and demonstrate a deeper respect for the event’s attendees. We are committed to building partnerships and helping the organisation achieves its goals.
“Mahi tahi (Working together) will make their work far more effective,” he says.
Tony and Nicky felt the Hui Taumata was unlike other conferences they’ve attended. The shared passion for the Kaupapa and active engagement with speakers was a highlight for the Dunedin team.
“Everyone really wanted to be there and had enjoyed themselves” says Tony.
Tony and Nicky set up a CrestClean stand in one of two marquees that showcased various Māori-owned small business. These businesses offered a range of products and services, from handcrafted jewellery to traditional Tā Moko.
In three days, Tony and Nicky gave away over 200 goodie bags filled with CrestClean sanitiser, cloths, tissues, and stationery.
“If we can leave them with something to remember – whether it’s the goodie bag or the Korero – we hope they will remember us well,” says Tony.
The 2024 Hui Taumata was a great few days of creating and strengthening relationships with those in the education sector. Tony and Nicky are looking forward to being back next year!
