Franklin district has planned a community-wide mass haka to kick off Māori Language Week to be held at Pukekohe's ECOLight Stadium on Monday 27 July.
Over 2300 students and staff from kura, primary schools and pre-schools across the Franklin district have confirmed their attendance to the mass haka event on Monday morning, and are excited about celebrating "te reo".
As well as the haka, the participating schools and services have been learning two waiata, and a popular dance "Watch Me (Whip/Naenae)" which they will perform after the haka.
The two waiata are part of the Te Kopu "Mahi Pai" Te Reo Rangatira programme that encourages learning te reo, through New Zealand Sign Language, upbeat music, fun and other strategies that foster excelled learning.
The event has been jointly organised by Te Huarahi Trust and Te Kopu Trust, and organisers say the event is open to the public.
For more information, you can contact Nikki Tarapa here.