On 11 October Te Taumutu held their school holiday tamariki day. We always start with karakia and then the tamariki were asked to do their mihimihi, which they are now adding more to. Our lovely facilitator, Liz Brown, explained to the tamariki what they would be doing– manu taratahi – kite making! Before we got started, the tamariki joined whānau on the paepae to welcome manuhiri, the local branch of Ngā Puna Waihanga. In 2005 artists around the motu thought it would be great to have nationally renowned clay/uku artist, and friend of Cath Brown, Colleen Waata-Urlich lead a workshop to make clay pātiki, with the view to exhibit them in an exhibition called ‘Moeka o te Pātiki Mohoao’.

At the time of the workshop, the Brown whānau asked participants if some of the small pātiki could be laid into the concrete surround of Cath’s grave.

Following the exhibition, Patricia Wallace always talked about giving the balance of the pātiki to Taumutu, but it was never organised, and the exhibition in memory of Cath at this year’s Hui-ā-Iwi is a good opportunity.

After morning tea with Ngā Punā Waihanga, the tamariki got stuck into their kite making.

The finished products were amazing. Their kites were on display at Hui-ā-iwi.

The weather was great, the tamariki were well behaved and showed much respect to our visitors. Our tamariki are growing stronger and stronger in their confidence on the marae, and showing great character. Our next tamariki day will be during the Christmas school holidays.

Denise Sheat, Tania Nutira, Rosaline Brown, Liz Brown and the Nga Puna Waihanga whanau.

Callum Jones.

Nga Taumutu Tamariki.