YEAR 9 TE REO MĀORI

On Tuesday, Whaea Marie Donaldson and students from 9W extended manaakitanga to Makikihi school students when they visited their te reo Māori class. 

Everyone enjoyed sharing Mihi (introductions), playing a game called Pukana and learning a Waiata (song) about our local iwi Māori who descend from the waka, Uruaokapuarang. The waka is known as Uruao for short and was captained by Rakaihautū and his son Rokohouia.

The beautiful new pou carved by Christine Harvey, artist, carver (Moriori, Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri, Te Ati Awa ki te Tauihu, Ngati Toa Rangatira, Kāti Mamoe and Pākehā) that proudly stands on the hill above the Whitehorse monument represents the wives of Rakaihautu and Rokohouia. Their names were Waiariki-o-āio and Tapuiti and they both loved the sweet flavour of the Hao eel. The Wainono lagoon was the local food basket for the descendants of Rakaihautū and Rokohouia.

 To find out more on this exciting local Māori history, visit https://waihaorunanga.co.nz/