Our Year 10 students enjoyed a fabulous trip this week to Puketeraki Marae at Karitāne. Students were welcomed with a pōwhiri onto the Marae and as part of the welcome students were able to sing the waiata Purea Nei which they had been busy practising at school in the lead up to the trip. After the formal welcome students participated in a variety of learning activities and games and learned about such things as traditional food gathering and cooking as well as some of the history related to Puketeraki Marae. All enjoyed the shared kai at lunchtime and nobody left hungry. After the poroporoaki we enjoyed a short hikoi to the Huriawa Pā site before getting back on the bus and returning to school.

The trip is a culturally enriching one with many students wishing they were able to stay longer. Students commented on how good it was to learn outside the classroom and that Kiri and her daughter made the trip fun, interesting and really worthwhile. We are very grateful to all those who gave up their time to help make our Marae experience such a good one and would like to thank the tutors, our senior Māori students who helped out as well as the people of Puketeraki Marae for making us feel so welcome.