Cool Pixs

We were just randomly taking photos in the ICT suite and in class today. Mauri ora!

He Manukura 2014

It was a very proud moment having our students follow in the footsteps of our ancestors and do the karanga and whaikorero for our class when we were called onto the Manurewa marae. We are very lucky to have the support of our rangatira, who are the kaitiaki o te whare tipuna o Hua kaiwaka. Our students - Legacy, Merani and Te Uwhinga were our kai karanga and Isaiah did our whai korero. Nga mihi nui ki a koutou nga rangatira mo apopo. Later, Papa Toi spoke about the history of Te Manurewatanga o Tampahore, nga kaitiaki - Kaiwhare and Taramainuku, nga tipuna hoki - Tamapahure raua ko Tamapahore. We later went to the maunga - Matukutureia. Mauri ora ki te whei ao, ki te ao marama!

He Manukura 2014

Pukana

I am looking forward to the many exciting activities the students will participate in during Term 4. Nga mihi nui to our awesome kaiako - Papa Kapi, Matua Tawera, Whaea Renee and Whaea Miriama. Our vision is for all students to be able to do the powhiri process from start to finish independently. We will be looking at Taonga puoro and the wero. We will be having marae noho too! 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!