Te haerenga ki Rangitoto

Nā Whaea Waina

On Tuesday 31st of May, with the weather looking ominous, Wai 1 and Wai 2 travelled to Rangitoto. Jumping off the ferry we gathered together as Matua Chris said a mihi to the maunga and we sang a waiata tautoko. The weather held and we began our trek. We stopped at various information posts to read and learn, then continued on to the lava caves. At the mouth of the lava cave we stopped for some morning tea, students were very excited to explore. Torches on, we walked through in small groups; looking up at the tree roots creeping through the rough cave walls.

Once out, we continued on to the summit of Rangitoto where we stopped for lunch and Matua Chris shared some pūrākau about Rangitoto and the surrounding moutere. To put our metaphoric mark on the summit, we performed Toia Mai. The keen beans decided to walk the extra distance around the crater, then met up with the rest of the group to head back down.

The sun was shining and the kids were singing songs, as we power walked back to the base. At the speed we walked, we reached the wharf with 40mins to spare. Matua Chris shared a few more pūrakau that engaged the students. What to do next? A rap battle of course so students and their parent/teacher wrote raps about our adventures on the volcanic island.

Back to the ferry we sat out in the open, and enjoyed the sea breeze. On to the bus, we rolled back to school with students singing waiata. What an awesome day!

A huge thank you to all the parents and teachers who came along. Matua Chris for sharing his expertise, and being a spritely group leader. Matua Brad, Whaea Jo and Whaea Rebecca for coming along to support your children and our NUONI whānau. Whaea Deb and Whaea Tracey who helped the kids along and kept their spirits up; Whaea Anita and Whaea Jane who helped with the organisation. Without you, this trip would not have been possible.

Te haerenga ki Te Tokaroa

On Friday of week 3 teina and tuakana enjoyed a break in the Autumn showers to learn about the geographical history and place names of our local area Te Rehu. Following in the footsteps of the many Ngā Uri O Ngā Iwi tamariki who have walked to Te Tokaroa- Meola Reef, students traced the path of Waiateao down to the Waitematā , recalling the words of our whānau pepeha :

Ko Maungawhau, ko Owairaka ngā maunga
Ko Waiateao, ko Waititiko ngā awa
Ko Waitematā te moana
Ko Te Rehu te rohe
Ko Te Hononga O Ngā Wai te whare
Ko Ngā Uri O Ngā Iwi te whānau

We were lucky to have Whaea Jane to show us the awa on the way and were amazed when she told us that Waiateao flowed all the way from Maungawhau!

When we arrived at Te Tokaroa, Hoani read out the sign that explained how Te Tokaroa was formed. Then Whaea Jane told us how scientists had recently discovered that the lava flow hadn’t come from Te Tātua a Riukiuta (The Three Kings volcano) at all. It had actually come from a volcano called Te Kōpuke (Mount St John) about 12 kilometers away, about 28,000 years ago! After walking on the volcanic basalt rocks, playing in the mud, and finding lots of crabs, we walked back to class completely exhausted.

We wrote about how the reef was formed and then published our writing using our neatest handwriting.

He Pānui

Akoranga Kauhoe

Tuakana swimming classes start in week 7, Monday 13 - 17 June at Newmarket Pools. Please make sure students bring their togs, towels and goggles if they own them each day to kura.

Teina/nohinohi Parent Reading Roster

A roster is now up on the wall in the Teina class. Please write your name next to the day/s and time you are available between 9 and 9.45 to listen to our tamariki read.