"It's About Changing the Narrative"

Honouring Stories of Place: Bream Bay Kāhui Ako and the Telling Your Stories Project

Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside the Bream Bay Kāhui Ako on a truly special Telling Your Stories (TYS) project. This Kāhui Ako, which includes One Tree Point School (Te Ara Kahika), Ruakākā School, and strong connections to the local hapū Patuharakeke, sits nestled in the southern reaches of Whangārei. What unfolded through this collaboration has been one of the most enriching storytelling journeys we’ve ever experienced, deeply rooted in Treaty partnerships, equity and pūrākau (story telling).

A Journey That Began with Listening

Our journey began at One Tree Point School about this time last year, where we were warmly welcomed by Lisa Watson, Ari Carrington, Helen Kinsey-Whitman, and Shirley Winters. What struck us most was the extraordinary depth of local knowledge and lived experience they shared. Ari Carrington, the Resource Coordinator for Patuharakeke, generously wove together pūrākau (traditional narratives) and rich histories of how the land was used long before schools were established in the area.

"It's about changing the narrative, for years we've taught the stories of other people in our classrooms and now it's time to tell ours" - Dr Lisa Watson, kaiwhakaruruhau

This storytelling wasn’t just historical. It was alive in the fabric of the schools’ cultures. Both One Tree Point and Ruakākā School exemplify what it means to genuinely embed Te Ao Māori into their curriculum and community practices. From bilingual signage, culturally responsive curriculum, to the everyday use of te reo by both students and teachers, the relationship with mana whenua is authentic, respectful, and vibrant.

 ”Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi

with your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive”

Lisa shares this whakatauki with us, describing the Telling Your Stories kaupapa and collaborative connection between the schools, Patuharakeke and the Telling Your Stories project team.

Stories as Curriculum Connectors

From the wealth of stories shared, we worked to distill them into four main narratives, each crafted with care and designed to be used meaningfully in the classroom:

• Te Ara Kahika and Tū Ariki– the story of One Tree Point School

• Let’s Ask Pīata – the narrative journey of Ruakākā School

• The Story of Patuharakeke – capturing the voice and legacy of the hapū

• Terenga Parāoa – a rich, multi-faceted resource telling the story of Te Ākau, Bream Bay, "the meeting place of chiefs"

The Terenga Parāoa site in particular became an expansive digital resource, connecting oral histories with marine biology, environmental science, and local legislation. With support from Holly Kereopa, a local marine biologist, we explored the journeys of whales into the bay and linked these to learning materials across the curriculum. The result is a fully interactive Google Site with hundreds of references, bringing together ancient wisdom and modern knowledge for tamariki to learn through story.

At the pōwhiri, our team (Kate on left) are welcomed into the Takahiwai Marae, and Shirley (centre) greets Holly (right) and all those that have helped us write their story

Unity and Celebration on the Marae

The project was blessed in a deeply moving ceremony at Takahiwai Marae. Kaumātua, iwi representatives, and new teaching staff from across the Kāhui Ako gathered to celebrate and welcome these stories into the community. To sit inside the wharenui, Rangiora, and watch the stories play out, where past, present, and future converged, was a moment we will never forget.

"It's something I'm extremely proud of" describes Principal of One Tree Point School, Shirley Winters "These are not my stories, these are the stories of Patuharakeke, and it's a real honour to have this taonga, and to be involved in a small way and part of the journey of these taonga "

Looking Ahead

As we hand over the completed Terenga Parāoa site to the dedicated teachers of the Bream Bay Kāhui Ako, we are filled with hope and excitement. These stories are not static. They are meant to grow, to be told and retold by the children of the place. The goal is not just storytelling for the sake of it, but storytelling as a way to build identity, strengthen curriculum connections, honour whakapapa, revitalise te reo Māori and cultivate equity by ensuring all voices are heard.

Ari Carrington describes the impact of this project as potentially generational:

"It's really important that the next generation are able to learn the history and the kōrero of Patuharakeke and normalise it and make it a part of their everyday kaupapa so that kōrero and history gets handed down"

Ngā mihi nui to all who were part of this journey. We can't wait to see what the next chapter holds.