Iwi Provides ‘Education Starter Packs’ for New Students

Iwi Provides ‘Education Starter Packs’ for New Students

Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere.
Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga, nōna te ao.
The bird that dines on berries, has the forest.
The bird that dines on knowledge, has the world.

Top of the south iwi Ngati Apa ki te Rā Tō has launched an initiative that will see all iwi children starting school for the first time given branded backpacks containing all the materials their school requires them to have.

The initiative was the brainchild of iwi Trustee and education committee member, Margaret Bond.

“Our children are our future and we wanted a way to show them that their iwi is with them, right from the start of their education journey,” said Margaret Bond.

“For some families, finding the money for the stationery and other resources their children are required to have can be difficult, so this is another way that the iwi can help all our kids feel proud about who they are and where they are from, and take away any worries about the expense.”

Warehouse Stationery managed the branding of the backpacks and put together the packs of materials, based on a database they maintain of all schools’ resource requirements.

“The Warehouse Stationery staff were extremely helpful and made the introduction of the Starter Packs very easy to implement,” said Margaret Bond.

“In time, we hope to be able to extend the initiative to intermediate and secondary school students as well.”

The iwi also provides education grants to assist with tertiary fees. Last year $20,000 was budgeted for this purpose.

ENDS

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