On the 16th of August Whaea Geri, Whaea Emma-Jane, Whaea Tash, Whaea Grace and Hākui Terina attended a wānanga for Atua Matua in Turangi.

We flew to Hamilton where Hākui Terina met us, we packed our stuff into the boot of our rental and we set off for Turangi. 

Along the way we stopped at Tirau for a kai at a lovely little cafe then carried on. We got energy snacks and kai for the planned bush walk and snow climb awaiting us over the next couple days. 

We were pumped and ready to tackle the mātauranga and challenges ahead of us. 

The next day we got suited up for the rain and met up with the kaiwhakahaere for our hīkoi around Rotopounamu. It was a wānanga filled with lots of learning and lots of laughs. 

finished the day with a sit down session to unpack what we'd learnt on the hīkoi and to enjoy a delicious kai together. Little did we know what was awaiting us.

At dinner that night the news announced the Covid Outbreak and issued the level 4 lockdown. So we said our goodbyes, arranged new flights home and packed up our stuff. 

It was a short but sweet wānanga.

- Grace Rihari