Year 9 visited Tuahiwi Marae on Wednesday this week.

Kia ora whanau,

On Wednesday, 23 May all Year 9 students attended a day visit to Tuahiwi Marae, located north of Christchurch. Luckily, the weather was kind to us with the sun rising as we were formally welcomed as manuhiri (visitors) through the process of a powhiri (maori welcoming ceremony). The boys experienced the whaikōrero (speeches) and waiata (songs) as part of the powhiri. Following a small break, the boys moved into one of five workshops that progressed over the morning. These involved: developing an understanding of whakapapa and the history of Tuahiwi marae, the whakapapa of St Bede’s College, looking at notable people that have influenced our school, a workshop on rakau (performance with small sticks), wero (ritual challenge with Taiaha), understanding the words of our College Haka and finally understanding the finer points of the actions of our College haka.

The boys were fully involved throughout the day experiencing Maori culture first-hand. A highlight was watching the boys learning wero or taki (ritual challenge) with the taiaha. Many showing great coordination and menacing presence as they attempted to strike fear into those watching. The boys were only given a brief tutorial, when in reality it takes Maori many years to master.

The day concluded with a last practice of the haka in their school House groups as final preparation for the Haka competition on Feast Day.

We hope that your son enjoyed the experience and we thank all the boys for being great ambassadors of the college in the way they engaged throughout the day. We also thank Tuahiwi marae, Kotane workers, Awatea, Tama, Tamahou and Dave Brennan for their hospitality and tutoring at Tuahiwi.

Nga mihi

Mr Chris Hubble and Ms Kaycee Soutar