THE KIWI TEACHER

This post is about moving beyond buzzwords and exploring what authentic international-mindedness really looks like in schools. It unpacks how multilingualism, intercultural understanding, and global engagement can shift from performative gestures to deeply reflective, student-driven practices. At its heart, it’s a call for courage, optimism, and action — rooted in identity, empathy, and a belief that meaningful change is still possible.

Instead of meetings becoming a teachers gripe, I offer an opportunity to reframe hiw we meet through the lens of hui, wananga and talanoa.

What if we began to weave together the strands of reflection AND practice, thinking AND doing, looking backwards AND walking forward.

The song book represents our collective understanding. It is our Kaupapa, our vision, where we are heading.

We need to shift away from the traditional epistemology of knowledge to a new way of doing and being.