Matariki Night Sky Artwork

In Room 7 (my class) we have been learning about Matariki. So our whole class decided to create the Matariki night sky using paint and oil pastels. This is my creation and interpretation of the Matariki night sky. 

Marae Visit- Recount

We were all glad the weather held out for us so that we could walk to Ruapotaka Marae. We were all very excited to experience something we haven’t experienced before. We followed all the Protocols/Rules of the Marae which is known as Tikanga, the protocols we followed at the Marae was to take our shoes off before entering the wharenui.

When we got inside the wharenui we started it off with a short ceremony. Matua Jim had welcomed us and spoke in Maori and me and Motu had replied, I replied in Maori and Motu had translated it in English. To conclude our very special ceremony we all sang He Honore and E Toru Nga Mea (two very well known Maori songs in our school)

After our morning tea we were split into two groups and we did separate activities. The two activities was learning a song and using flax to make a flower. The most difficult task was making the flower because the flax was so fragile and we had to ensure we didn’t tear it apart. Luckily I was able to form a flower. Our last activity was to learn a basic Maori song with Matua Jim. We learnt Heads Shoulders Knees and Toes yet it was in Maori. As we learnt it and started to get better we started to sing it faster and faster.

After we finished our song with Matua Jim my class (Room 7) had left the Marae because we had to catch the bus to go to our technology class at Selwyn College. The Marae visit was a great experience for all of us. I hope to go there again another time.

Powhiri Ceremony

A Powhiri is a welcoming ceremony between the visitors and the people of the marae. This is only performed by a woman.

Yesterday before we entered the Marae all the girls were addressed to stand in the front and all the Men/Boys (Warriors) stood at the back. During the Powhiri one of the women/wahine of the Marae and said something in Maori to welcome us on the Marae and Ana-Lei who was representing our school had replied back in Maori. As we approached the Wharenui it was if we were in an army.

The Powhiri sounded like a war cry which is used to call upon soldiers to fight a battle. When a Powhiri is performed the voices of the ladies are in high pitch. During the Powhiri to me it felt as if we were in a war, but in a war of peace. The Powhiri is a very important event to the Maori people because it welcomes the visitors and takes away all the sacredness in you. This was most of the school’s first time experiencing a Powhiri.

The Powhiri was a really good experience for us that are not Maori.

My Maori Pepeha

This is my Maori pepeha we learnt at our trip to Ruapotoka Marae. Hope you enjoy it.

The Marae-Manaakitanga (That we may house our guests)

My Mihimihi

My Mihimihi

My Maori Mihimihi is linked above. Hope you enjoy it.