Our dawn blessing was a wonderful experience for all who came.

Around 100 students, whanau and staff gathered together to see dawn break and hear the special karakia by our Kaumatua Taura Eruera, blessing the children, whanau, staff, builders and tools and learning spaces.

Our new building has been gifted the name Kawharu.

“Te Rae o Kawharu means the Brow of Kawharu. Kawharu was a warrior chief from Kawhia. He was a giant of a man. He is said to be around 8 feet tall with a face as long as your fingertip to elbow. Te Rae o Kawharu is the 1680's name for what is now the Surrey Crescent-Arch Hill ridge. There Kawharu rested himself (and his war party) during the campaign of raids, across the Tamaki isthmus, known as "The Stripping Conquest".

To proclaim mana over land in a customary way, he named this place after his brow. In that time, naming the land after your head, in whole or in part, was the strongest, possible, land title available. The tapu was observed for generations thereafter. Thanks to Kawharu's campaigns, Ngati Whatua and others gained control over the Tamaki Isthmus, around 1740, a century later. Another century later, Apihai Te Kawau of Ngati Whatua, invited Governor Hobson, in 1840, to set up the capital in Auckland. Apihai also provided land for the first waves of Auckland settlers.

The name that has been part of our landscape and story for around 340 years is now reflected in our gifted bi-lingual name for Grey Lynn School: Te Rae O Kawharu.”

Taura Eruera

It was a morning to thank all those who enabled our building to happen and celebrated their efforts to give us these learning spaces. As many mentioned; this structure is a physical and visible gift. The most important part of any building is not the building itself; rather the people who live, breathe and pass through it now and it the future. Thank you all for being part of it.

The entire school walked through our new building after the blessing. It was incredible to hear the excitement and see their delight!

“I thought that the new building was nice and cosy and colourful. It felt like a peaceful space with the views. I thought the openness was really good and children from other classes can collaborate together.” Beata

“The colours were calming and mellow and it was very welcoming the way it was so open and you could see everything.” Erika

Our sincere thanks to Victoria Wickman who shared her talents as GLS Paparazzi/Photographer on the morning of our blessing. We love your work Victoria!

Nga mihi
Alicia Whata
Grey Lynn School Principal

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