This Aoraki Bound course saw the first wave of second generation participants taking part in the haerenga.
Two children of previous participants, influenced and inspired by their parents’ Aoraki Bound journey, took up the challenge and experienced it for themselves. Aged from 18 to 47, the group included an artist, builder, doctor-to-be, youth mentor, a Treaty settlements analyst from TPK, savvy visual media communications guy, tribal policy analyst, iwi, taurahere and Pākehā.
Descendants from Awarua, Ōtākou, Te Taumutu, Waihōpai, Kaikōura, Moeraki, Arowhenua, Ngāti Wheke, Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ōraka Aparima, Wairewa, Makaawhio and Puketeraki – and others not of Ngāi Tahu descent – were connected by their passion for the kaupapa.
Rerehu Louisi, a recent high school graduate, has also attended our Manawa Hou programme – a hīkoi opportunity for senior secondary students to engage in.
It’s great to see rangatahi using multiple opportunities to engage with their rūnanga, make life- long relationships and increase their cultural competence.
Another participant travelled from Perth and for her, Aoraki Bound presented an opportunity for a reconnection with Te Waipounamu. She was born here but has lived her whole life away. At the hākari, with Aoraki as a majestic backdrop, each of the students stood and spoke of their ‘pounamu’, their experience and learning – all exuding a contagious pride in their whakapapa, conscious of their footsteps, their identity and their place in the future of and with Ngāi Tahu.
Those taking part in the challenge were (as in the rōpu photograph below): From left back row: Ash (Outward Bound), Kim (Outward Bound), Rata Pryor Rodgers, Fergus Stewart, Fabian Pērā, Moeroa Kearle, Lily Pryor Rodgers, Sampson Karst, Rerehu Lousi, Tiaki Latham Coates (Aoraki Bound Instructor). Front row: Pomare Dacker, Lara Morton, Keri Whaitiri, Jonathan Easthope, Rebecca Clements, Tom Macfarlane, Pip (Outward Bound).
‘On the run’ in the dramatic mountain landscape.
Rōpū Aoraki.
The rōpū sorting tactics at the start of the run.