Mean Te Whanau Awhina Mean

Kia ora tatou!

Our Te Whanau Awhina Pakeke did Clendon Park School proud when they performed in front of everyone at Manurewa marae. It was an event to support Matua Damon and Whaea Kelly who are the leaders of Taki Maori. Taki Maori will be performing and sharing our Maori culture in Scotland in three weeks time. TWA Pakeke were awesome and sang proudly with confidence. Nga mihi nui to their awesome tutors Matua Richard, Whaea Martina and Koka Kylie. We look forward to more awesome performances in the future. Mauri ora!

Taupo Trip of a Life Time Day 3

We had to get up bright and early in the morning to be ready to go for the Prawn farm and then the Huka falls cruise. We did a massive clean up of the marae and packed our bus to get back on the road for our journey north bound. We had done our final goodbyes to the hau kainga last night and were blessed by their warmth and manaakitanga.

At the Prawn Park with Mr Prawn himself

Striking a pose once again

One of the highlights of the Prawn Park was actually feeding some of the smaller prawns. I think Lizzy had about four of them eating out of her hands.

One of the adult prawns

Giving the small prawns a kai

Our tour guide later took us to some ponds where other visitors were actually fishing for some of the prawns. We opted to go around the activities circle around the park. The favourite spot for our kuia and parents was the geothermal seat and foot bath.

Funny photos

Pukana

Playing with the scales

Bikes and water hoses

Next, was a ride on the Huka falls cruise. We had an awesome captain who gave us korero along the way up towards the falls.

This is our lovely boat

And we are away

Each of our groups had turns on the upper deck to have a look around the river

Te Uwhinga on photos

Next group on the upper deck

Another group on the upper deck

Mauri ora!\

Now this is where things get really exciting. We all had turns on the upper deck as our captain took us close to the huka falls. It was seriously awesome! On the last turn we went up backwards up close to the falls while the boys did the haka

The beautiful Huka falls

We had such an awesome time in Taupo. At the end of our cruise, we did our farewells and thank you to all the parents, whanau and support staff. There were many piwaiwaka flying around which was a good sign. Nga mihi nui to Nana Bubs - our matriarch on the tour, whaea Oronsay - the hardest working whaea ever, matua Rhy for his awesome bus and driving, to our parents for all your hard work behind the scenes -  matua Nui, whaea Joelene, matua Arthur, matua Jacks (DJ) and whaea Sue who is always there for us. Nga mihi to our staff whaea Camille may you have success in your teaching journey, whaea Noelle for keeping an eye on our taonga Rory and most of all our Tuwharetoa leaders Ma Cynthia and whaea Nicky. Tuwharetoa rocks!

Pukawa Marae Mauri ora!

Tuwharetoa Maranga mai!

Taupo Trip of a life time Day 2

It is the second day and we had a jam packed time. We were up early and had an awesome breakfast thanks to our parents, whanau and support team. They were all up late last night preparing the students lunches and snacks.

Making them sandwiches

Preparing a hearty breakfast

In the morning, we had Matua Sonny come in and give us the korero about the hui of when the King was decided. He later took the students down to the kohatu where a memorial was placed.

This is the memorial where the first Maori king was decided

After that, we went to Tapeka Marae and heard the korero of the Paramount chiefs of Tuwharetoa and looked at the beautiful church and hot pools by the side of lake Taupo.

Rory having an awesome time while travelling to Tapeka marae.  I have to say that all the students did TWA very proud with their excellent behaviour and performances for the hau kainga and parents.

Walking to the church at Tapeka Marae

Looking at the beautiful lake Taupo at the side of Tapeka Marae

Next, we made a stop at the Taupo Trout Fishery centre, before making our way to the Chateau visitor centre at the base of Mount Ruapehu.

At the fishery information centre

Walking around the fishery area

Walking around the fishery bush walk

Now the star of the show is Mount Ruapehu. We were very lucky to have matua Sonny for the whole day to give us the korero everywhere we went on day 2. Nga mihi nui!

The rush is on to feel the snow

Exciting! Everyone was a buzz and for some this was their first time touching snow

Way up the top of the mountain

A model of the sacred mountains of Tuwharetoa

Even though there was not much snow on the mountain, we were very honoured to be there and everyone had an awesome time running around and playing with the snow pockets lying around. It was wickedly cold and we felt the crisp cold wind. We then went down to the Tokaanu hot pools to have some kai and then relax in the hot springs.

Nice relaxing at the hot pools

fun at the hot pools

It was awesome at the hot pools and we then went back to the marae to prepare for the po whakangahau and perform for the hau kainga and have our disco. Our parents prepared kai while we practised our kapa haka and had several games of spot light around the marae. Dallas proved to be very allusive!

It was a pleasure to perform for matua Sonny and the hau kainga at Pukawa marae. He shared lots of stories about Tuwharetoa history. Nga mihi nui!

Taupo The Trip of a Life time

What an amazing trip we had from start to finish. It was totally the "bomb" and everyone who was involved had a Mean Maori Mean time. It all started months ago with planning and organisation by the teachers, administration, staff and whanau. The actual thought for the trip came about several years before. All in all it was awesome! Nga mihi nui ki a Ma Cynthia and Whaea Nicky for allowing us to come into your ataahua marae and meet your lovely whanau. Nga mihi nui hoki ki a Whaea Sue Dawson and Matua Dudley and the BOT for supporting us in these wonderful experiences. The students will go away with many happy memories and moments. Tuwharetoa maranga mai!

Raapa - Te Ra Tuatahi

Karakia is of the up most importance. 

We were very privileged to have matua Alec start us off in prayer. We had all the support of our parents and TWA students and teachers join us in karakia. Whaea Sue Dawson gave a beautiful speech which set the tone for a wonderful trip.

Having all the whanau in support. Nga mihi nui!

Everyone lends a hand in TWA with the luggage and food. Mauri ora!

Our first stop was at Taupiri maunga. We shared korero about who was buried at the maunga and many students and teachers had whanau there. We talked about the Kingitanga and the Waikato river. We ended with a karakia. He piko he taniwha, He piko, he piko he taniwha.

Ko Taupiri te Maunga

Hatu Patu's Rock

After having kai at Cambridge, we traveled further on until we came to Hatu Patu's rock. There are a few versions of the korero and it was interesting to hear them. We gave a koha such as a leaf or fern and placed it in the rock for good luck and safe travels. Later, we sang waiata and did a haka.

Called on to the marae Pukawa

When we arrived at Pukawa marae we were treated to some awesome Tuwharetoa hospitatlity. After the powhiri, we were given a lovely kai that hit the spot. Afterwards, we were given the history of Pukawa marae and the many stories of how the tribes of Aotearoa link to each other.

Potatau Te Wherowhero the first Maori King

Pukawa is the place of where the first Maori king was decided. In all the carvings the major tribes of Aotearoa were represented from the far north to the south island. It was an awesome first day of our trip.

Let's hope for good weather next week

The current weather forecast for Taupo is as follows:

Weather in Taupo 18 Weds to 20 Fri June 2014

Next week we are off to Taupo and the weather is not looking too good at the moment. We will be going on a 49 seater bus similar to the one below. We will be leaving on Wednesday and returning on Friday evening. It is going to be a jam packed, action filled excursion where we will learn alot about the kawa of Ngati Tuwharetoa and experience many of the exciting things Taupo has to offer. Mauri ora! Congratulations to Precious for receiving a duffy book at assembly today for her acrostic poems about Matariki.

Run Pukeko Class Run

Ka nui nga mihi ki a Isaiah, Kerehoma and Michael for doing extremely well in the cross country event on Wednesday. They ran around the school for 3 laps and were placed first, second and third respectively. They will be selected to represent our school at the Manurewa Cross Country Championships. Mauri ora!