Nga Wai o Manawhenua had their first noho for the year at the beginning of the term one holidays out at Matau Marae. 

The purpose for this noho was to bring the three Kapahaka roopu together as one. Whakawhanaungatanga (establishing relationships and relating well to others) was the overarching theme throughout the duration of this noho.

The students were split into three groups where they named and created their own chant according to who they were. In these groups they did everything from cleaning dishes to completing survival tasks, to learning haka and waiata.

By the end of the noho, the students had definitely built some strong bonds as a Kapahaka roopu and were able to confidently stand together as one.