Last week Te Puna Hauaitū visited Rapaki and spent some time learning about our whare and out exploring te taiao.

Ko Te Poho o Tamatea te maunga
Ko Ōmaru te awa
Ko Whakaraupo te moana
Ko Rapaki te marae
Ko Wheke te whare
Ko Ngāti Wheke te hapu
Tīhei, mauri ora!

"We sing about this place all the time.... so it was nice for our new babies to finally experience Rapaki in all its beauty!"
- Matua Hohua

Come rain or shine, not a lot could keep our tamariki from heading to Rapaki for the day. The day kicked off in the whare with a whakatau with our Rapaki whānau and a few familiar faces on the paepae.

Matua Kerepeti (te pāpā o Miere) shared a korero about all the things in the whare; including stories about Te Waka o Aoraki (Aoraki and his brothers), their māmā Pokohāruatepō and their pāpā, Ranginui.
This was followed by the "coolest “Treasure Hunt” ever...."

"Matua K.P. Had the kids searching for a mere pounamu...e whitu ngā whetū....me ngā pipi!!.... such great interactive way for our tamariki to discover and connect with this beautiful wharenui!"
- Kōka Kristal

After a kai, the tamariki headed out to the beach for some play-based learning, further exploring te taiao and finding some kaimoana for Matua Hohua's dinner 😂

"Kids come home stinking of pipis 😝 they had heaps of fun today."
- Azaria

"Fine weather from Rakinui.... calm waters and taonga from Takaroa....fresh air from Tawhirimātea.... a beautiful display from Te Poho o Tamatea from Papatūānuku and Hinepūkohurangi."
- Jaya Meha-Allen (te māmā o Tapairu)

"...as you can see we had a meke day..... with lots of good learning about the world (and their place within it!)"

 "Thank you to our parents that came to tautoko! We appreciate the time you spend with us!! Ka nui te aroha!!!!"
- Matua Hohua