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National | Australia

Kōhanga reo initiative launched in Sydney

A Kōhanga Reo initiative has been launched in the Sydney suburb of Macquiry Fields, where a playcentre called Brightstars was launched two months ago.

Although still in its infancy, the running of the programme differs considerably to that of NZ-based Kōhanga Reo.

The recently launched organisation sees teachers and support workers running playgroup sessions both in te reo Māori and English.

A Māori environment has been created and the foundations are based on the Kōhanga Reo curriculum.

It’s believed Kōhanga has fizzled out in the past; however the movement has reached out to the National Kōhanga Reo Trust, along with the Aotea region, to help steady its foundations.

The Kōhanga are based at more than one location, with this initiative spreading out to other regions in Sydney.