Mātai nuku, mātai rangi mātai ki uta, mātai ki tai. Ngā tohu o te rangi, o te kapua, o te manu o te moana, tēnei te tohu ka whakairia, tēnei te tohu ka whakataua. Whāia!

Nei rā te ōwha, te whakamihia ki a tātou i ngā āhuatanga o te rā, Nō reira, tēnā tātou katoa.

Last Friday, some of our tamariki from Kāhu, Ruru and Kōtare went to Ōhinehou Naval Point for a waka ama experience. Me mihi ka tika ki a Barry Campbell hei whakarite i tō tātou rā rerehua. Nō mātou te whiwhi!.

When we arrived at the Naval Point, we were greeted by Pete and Barney who were our awesome guides for the day. Matua Pete was able to talk about some of the risk management on the land and on the water. I think the hardest part of our experience was lifting the waka to and from the moana. 

When we sat in our waka, we were also greeted by the calm and glistening water followed by a karakia which guided our safety along the water and our journey.

Kāre, e kore, Nā ngā tiaki o te moana,mātou e tiaki, e manaaki i ngā wā katoa. When we arrived at Ōtamahua-Quail Island, there were visitors that greeted us. They asked us, “Where did you come from?’ and I replied,” Hawaiki nui, Hawaiki roa, Hawaiki Pamamao! And then we all laughed!

While we were on the island, we had the opportunity to visit some huts and te Pou whenua, Te Hamo o Tūte Rakiwhanoa on top of the island. There was a great view of Rapaki, especially the maunga Te Poho o Tamatea and the moana Whakaraupō. Great experience for opur tamariki who are from Ngāti Wheke.

When we returned back to the Naval Point, we travelled around the island and Matua Pete talked about the shipwrecks and the markers that guide the ships and boats.  I think we had travelled 9 kms by waka to the Naval point.