It has been amazing to have Matua Dennis on board our waka. He has come with many passions, this in particular passion, he has been sharing with our pā.

He has been teaching the Mau o te raakau ki ngaa pononga katoa for the last 4 weeks and every week from now moving forward. They've all been awesome and the purpose is to make them all One Heartbeat. Te kaupapa nei Ko.Te Whare Tuu Taua o Waitaha. He is a very talented Poutoru Ki raro i te ao manaakitanga o Aaron Hapuku.

This is a beautiful kaupapa to help our pononga understand he toa Maaori. To be able to learn the taiaha, mahi waewae, mahi taiaha, Nga pito paoa, pito Karo (strikes and blocks), Ahei and eventually whawhai.

Apart of this process, we have also been learning te karakia to leave the realm of Rongo and go into the realm of Tuumatauenga, and then karakia anoo to leave the realm of war with Tuumatauenga and go back to the realm of peace with Rongo-marae-roa.

It's great to see us learning the skills and talents of our tūpuna. Ka mau te wehi koutou. Kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui.