During the school holidays part of
the Kahui Whetu programme was run in Rotorua at Paruaharanui Marae from the 11th
– 13th July 2012. I had the pleasure of delivering the programme to 7 Rangatahi
from Maketu and Te Puke it was so awesome having the Rangatahi over a 3 day
period. To our matua (parents/caregivers) thank you for allowing me to share in
their holiday, all Rangatahi show a great respect towards our Tipuna Whare
which flowed throughout the wananga. We departed from Maketu on Wednesday
afternoon and were welcomed (Powhiri) on to Paruaharanui Marae, after
whakawhaungatanga and dinner. We all re-grouped to begin our lessons of
developing our Pepeha, cultural identity, etc and after story time (Maui) it
was time for bed. Pomaire tamariki ma.
Thursday: After breakfast and
cleaning up we where back into our lessons, mid morning we had manuhiri arrive
from the Hauora. Our first visitors to arrive were Kelly and Clove, third year
nursing students, who were welcomed on to the Marae. No sooner had we completed
this process we again re-group to perform another Powhiri for 3 more manuhiri
from the Hauora Vicky Jennings, Yvonne 2nd year Social Worker
student and another young Rangatahi. It was wonderful to observe our Rangatahi
take part in this process in the role of the tangata whenua and perform our
waiata for Matua Reg, Tumeke. Once this process was complete we where back in
to our lesson, our Rangatahi developed some great poster and shared some good
korero in their presentations, well done!!
With all bookwork completed the
afternoon was free to spend at the Rotoma Soda Springs and tour around Rotorua.
Before we left Mourea, I took our Rangatahi on a little tiki tour around some
of our local Marae. Starting at Kahumatamoemoe, then down to Houmaitawhiti,
before heading back through Mourea we stopped in to see Uncle Chester, on to Rangitihi
marae and finally Te Takinga. It became so evident that the Rangatahi where truly
absorbing this cultural experience and of course we couldn’t go past Hinehopu
without stopping, which was also known as Hone Heke’s track that he used to
make his way to Mokoia Island. Finally tamariki we arrived at Rotoma Soda
Springs, you where all enjoying yourselves so much that as a group you decided
that you wanted to spend the rest of your afternoon there. It was just going on
dark before we returned to Paruaharanui with hungry puku, thank you to our
master chef who had dinner all prepared for us.
The evening entailed watching a DVD
called Kerosene Creek that reiterated the impact of our learning for the day.
It was time for bed and for the rest of the evening nga tamariki spent time
relaxing in bed talking before nodding off to sleep.
Friday: Our programme was coming to
end but not before cleaning up our marae and once it was done off to Rainbow
Springs to send our morning. As a group it was requested that you all look
after each other and that our older members of the group look out for our
younger tamariki. As a group you all showed true leadership skills, staying
together helping each other. This group had bonded as one, you all awhi each
other, you all respected each other without knowing it.
On behalf of Maketu Health and Social
Services congratulations to you all, you have all completed the Kahui Whetu Drug
and Alcohol Prevention, Ka Pai Koutou!! I hope you all enjoyed your Hakari at
Kwong Chow, just as much as I did.
Na Katrina Maaka
Taitamariki Kaiwhakahaere
Kahui Whetu Programme
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