On Tuesday, Classes 5, 6 and 7 travelled to Ōrongomai Marae in Ōrongomai (Upper Hutt). We were welcomed on with a pōwhiri and we spent the rest of the day exploring the parts of a whare nui, ngā whakiro (carvings) ngā kōwhaiwhai (painted designs) and ngā tukutuku (woven panels). At the end of our time Classes 5 and 6 were farewelled with a poroporoaki (farewell) and then returned home and Class 7 settled in to spend the night. For many of the ākonga this was their first trip to a marae and for class 7 the first time that they have slept over under the watchful eyes of the poupou. Ōronogmai Marae is situated in the industrial are of Upper Hutt, very close to Daytona Adventure Park and Maidstone Max. Class 7 spent the afternoon bouncing on trampoline and ice skating. In the morning Class 7 we’re farewelled with a brief porporoaki (farewell) and journeyed on to Kaitoke Regional park for a night of camp fires, icy river dips, and camping. Ōrongomai marae is unique in that it is not part of a particular iwi but a community marae that belongs to all iwi. There is a pou that represents the Pasifika people’s and one at the very front that represents Ngāti Katoa- meaning the iwi of unity, an iwi for everyone who does not have an iwi to belong to. The Koroua, Butch, that sent us on our way, told our group that we now belonged to the marae and to Ngāti Katoa, and were always welcome back. We hope that this will become a yearly event for Te Rā, where classes 5, 6 and 7 visit and become familiar and confident with how to conduct themselves on a marae.