Our name, Te Rito, is representative of our guiding principle: Me tiaki te mana o te tamaiti me tōna whānau | protect and uphold the mana of the child and their whānau. This principle was established early and identified through the mahi of Te Rau Whakatupu - Māori.
Te Rau Whakatupu - Māori also connected this principle to the symbolism of the harakeke and the following whakatauākī:
Hutia te rito o te harakeke
If the heart of the harakeke (flax) was removed
Kei whea te kōmako e kō
Where then would the bellbird sing?
Kī mai ki ahau:
If I was asked:
'He aha e mea nui o te ao?'
What is the most important thing in the world?
Māku e kī atu:
I would say:
'He tangata, he tangata, he tangata'.
'It is people, it is people, it is people'.
- Meri Ngaroto
This whakatauākī was gifted for the programme's use by Te Aupouri. Their ancestor, Meri Ngaroto, is credited with this whakatauākī which urges consideration for what's important.
Te Rito is the inner leaf, or baby flax, at the heart of the harakeke. Te Rito represents the tamaiti and child or ākonga and learner, surrounded by protective outer leaves, which represent whānau, family, hāpori, community, kaiako, teachers, educators, kura and schools.
We thank Te Aupouri and Te Rau Whakatupu - Māori and recognise their knowledge and contribution as a taonga for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
Pronunciation
Te ("Tent" short sound)
Ri ("Reed" rolled "r")
to ("Tort" short sound)