On Friday 19th March our two year 11 art classes went on a local field trip, designed to give them a greater appreciation and understanding of artistic conventions in te ao Māori.

In the morning the boys visited Ngā Hau E Whā National Marae on Pages Rd where they were welcomed in a pōwhiri by kaumatua Henare Edwards and Sally Mckean.

Matua Hone was the kaikōrero for us, and both Mr Edwards and Mrs Mckean remarked on the strength of his whaikōrero. 

The boys and staff were very appreciative of the manaakitanga extended to the them. The boys then had an hour to appreciate the beautiful whakairo (carvings) and tukutuku panels and make some notes for their NCEA portfolios.

After lunch in the Botanical Gardens, the group visited the Canterbury Museum, where Hatesa Seumanutafa, Associate Curator Māori & Pasifika took them behind the scenes to examine their extensive collection of Waka Huia – carved boxes used to store taonga. These were often suspended in Marae or whare and are very rare, so it was an amazing opportunity for the students and staff to have access to them. 

It was also great to see old boy, Ayden Dove, who is currently doing his Masters of Museum and Heritage Practice through Victoria University and is an intern at the Museum for the rest of the year.

The relationship between our school and the Canterbury Museum is one that we are trying to develop across our Kāhui Ako (cluster of schools). Our history classes and other groups from our Kāhui Ako will be visiting and going ‘behind the scenes’ later in the year.