Last week, our kopa had the incredible privilege of visiting Te Hono – New Plymouth Airport, not to catch a flight, but to deepen our connection to the land beneath our feet. This trip served as the “living classroom” for our term-long inquiry into local history and identity.
While many see an airport as a place of departures and arrivals, for us, it became a storytelling hub. We gathered to hear the Te Atiawa creation story, told in the very place where the architecture and design intentionally reflect the heritage of our iwi.
Bringing Inquiry to Life
This term, we have been exploring the origins of our community and the significance of the landscape. Standing within Te Hono allowed our ākonga (learners) to see how those stories aren’t just found in books—they are carved into walls, woven into patterns, and embedded in the names of our landmarks.
From the Classroom to the World
It was a joy to watch the “lightbulb moments” happen as students recognised symbols and names we had discussed in class. This experience has provided a wealth of foundation for our final inquiry projects, as students now have a personal connection to the history of the whenua.