Te Whare Reo embraces changes that reflect 21st century teaching and learning delivering digital lessons, with a focus on quality language development and proficiency. Our language courses facilitate and broaden students’ choice of careers, and awareness of different cultures.

The school also has a proud record of success in the performing arts at both regional and national level which upholds the mana and identity of Lytton High School.

The pathways available for language learning include:

Te Reo Māori (Te Orokohanga)

– for those students who wish to begin their Reo Maori journey in a safe and inclusive environment underpinned by tikanga values such as manaakitanga (care and support) and whakawhanaungatanga (relationships).

Mana Māori

– for students from M āori immersion schools who want to continue their language development and proficiency in a more advanced environment so their reo is maintained and progressed.

Te Ao Haka

– Te Reo M āori expressed through the art of kapa haka – this is for all students who have a passion for learning traditional performing arts. This course is both practical and theory based that can lead to study at University level.

Te Hā o Rongotū and Te Mauri o Rongotū

– A practical introductory course of Mau Rakau (The art of Weaponry) for Year 9 and 10 students underpinned by the realm of Tūmatauenga (God of war).

Japanese Language

– Lytton High School has a proud and long-standing tradition of learning the Japanese language (B – Nihongo), while establishing and building relationships with our partner schools in the Land of the Rising Sun.

For students who wish to enhance their cognitive potential by exploring the concept of learning a picture-based language (as opposed to a Romanised alphabet). That is, learning about sentence structures and increasing their depth of knowledge about the alphabets (ひらがな、カタカ ナ、and 漢字 [Kanji]), which are known as the かな (Kana), whilst working towards producing authentic pieces of writing and prepared speech in 日本語.

Japanese Application courses (Year 11-13)

– for students who wish to extend themselves by learning how to communicate in a second language that is not currently used within their local communities through listening, speaking, and assessments based on interaction with their peers.

The Lytton High School 日本語 programme culminates with a trip to Japan in Year 13, where students can experience authentic interactions in the Japanese language, and immerse themselves in the Japanese culture.