Melanie Taite-Pitama, student achievement function practitioner at the Ministry of Education, talks about how schools can build and strengthen a relationship with local marae or hapū to ensure their tamariki and whānau have connection to papakainga and whakapapa. Melanie likens the relationship between a rūnanga or marae and a school to a friendship, which needs to be nurtured and respected. She explains the role of the education team of a rūnanga, to advise and guide around cultural intelligence, and the process to connect school and hapū.
