Resilience Students at Manurewa Marae

Kia ora tatou katoa! 

The resilience students had an awesome time at Manurewa marae today. They were welcomed on by Matua Toi and Whaea Tangiwai (Rory's parents) and were given the local history of how Manurewa got it's name. Later, we went into the whare nui and Matua Toi talked to everyone about what the carvings and tukutuku panels meant. He shared lots of stories about the local area and made whakapapa connections to countries around the world. Nga mihi nui ki a korua Matua Toi and Whaea Tangiwai.

Manurewa Marae 

Matua Toi giving some korero to the students

Listening to all the korero

Resilience group photo outside the marae

Matua Kapi guided us around Matukutureia mountain. He is mana whenua and has direct whakapapa links to this sacred mountain. We started with a karakia and then went exploring. We were very lucky to be given direct access to this site.

Matukutureia Mountain

Exploring around the sacred sites

Whaea Renee with CPS students

Awesome resilience students - Lose and Ben

Nga mihi to Matua Kapi - Our resilience leader for allowing our students of CPS to come and learn so much today. Nga mihi ki nga matua hoki - Whaea Oronsay, Whaea Renee, Whaea Miriama and Matua Joe for been our awesome bus driver. Mauri ora!

Kings of the World

Matua Tuiono and Matua Kapi

We end with a karakia and sprinkling of water

To our resilience students. Your behaviour was excellent and you represented our kura with pride. You are the next leaders of Te Ao Hurihuri - Mauri ora!

OMG! Health Camp Splendour

Omg! What an awesome health camp. Matua Des, Whaea Ana and I just visited Boston, Courtney, Myra, Kaitiaki, Tiana and Maddison at the "Stand for Children" health camp in Pakuranga beside the Waitemata harbour overlooking Rangitoto island. The students were really excited to see us and shared all the fun activities that they have been doing over the past 5 weeks. They really enjoyed the video message from TWA and the lollies and cards from the Junior teachers and students. Later, they took us for a tour of the premises. We were really impressed with their learning, facilities and wonderful teachers.

In the hall way at the camp site

With one of the fabulous teachers

Students making their own korowai

One of the residential staff known as Grandpa provides pastoral care

For more information check out the website standforchildren.org.nz

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.

Our Place Our Photos

Check out "Our Place" and "Our Photos"

Te Whanau Awhina Pride!

For some reason the students in Pukeko and Kereru classes decided to haka it out during lunch time. They had their shirts off and were showing their TWA pride. Of all places to haka, they started doing it at the playground and then went around the school. It is awesome to have pride, but we must also remember to be humble too. Nga mihi nui!

Welcome Whaea Ana!

We have a lovely trainer teacher in Pukeko class for the next 4 weeks. Pukeko class look forward to the many new learning opportunities that they will have with Whaea Ana. She is of Tongan descent and comes from Te Wananga o Aotearoa. Tomorrow some of our students will be learning how to cook in our lovely whare kai and later she will be playing some new ball activities. Next week, whaea Ana will be teaching the students about procedure texts in literacy and fractions in numeracy. Watch this space for upcoming photos and videos. Mauri ora!