As part of our work on Te Tātoru o Wairau project we will have a kōhatu mauri; a stone to maintain a life force, where the students can put into it their positive intentions for our new schools.

On Monday 19 September, we were blessed to have Ngāti Kuia kaitiaki taiao, Matua Lewis, talk with tauira from MGC, MBC and Bohally at Te Hoiere Pelorus. He shared the pūrakau of Matua Hautere and how the taniwha Kaikaiāwaro helped to carve out the awa between Motuweka (Havelock) and Te Hoiere. 

Pākohe is a taonga which can be found in the river bed and it is synonymous with Ngāti Kuia and their relationship to the environment. The mauri (or life force) contained in all parts of the natural environment binds the spiritual and physical world. 

After the kōrero from Matua Lewis, our students were able to explore and locate some Pākohe. These kōhatu mauri will be taken back to each kura for students to imbue their mauri into the Pākohe before it is placed into the new Community Hub, which will open in Term 4 on our site.