Wednesday 22 July, saw the launching of a series of books at Te Rau Aroha Marae on stories illustrated in art work around the wharekai.
The stories, Kā Roimata, Tama Rereti, Battle of the Birds and Tunaroa have been retold by Bubba Thompson in English and Māori, in collaboration with Henare Manawatu, Paulette Tamati-Elliffe and Charisma Rangipunga.
Members of the Ministry of Education, Papatipu Rūnanga and students and teachers from Bluff Community School attended the launch, which was then followed by the gifting of the publications to the schools’ six class representatives, Justis Heron (Takahē), Lachlan Ferguson (Tūī), Ryder Kapene (Weka), Aurora Metzger (Kererū), Mercedes Akuhata (Pukeho) and Vana Savage (Kākāpō).
Students broke into four groups between the wharekai and wharenui and were read stories from the book by teachers and a Ngāi Tahu representative.
Bubba would like to acknowledge the funding he received from Mahere Mātauranga under an agreement between Papatipu Rūnanga and the Ministry of Education, and the assistance from Paulette and Charisma of Kotahi Mano Wawata for guidance and translation services. A big thank you also to Henare Manawatu who was responsible for overseeing that the project came in on time and on budget.
Back row, Bubba Thompson. Front row, from left, Justis Heron, Lachlan Ferguson, Ryder Kapene, Aurora Metzger, Mercedes Akuhata and Vana Savage.
From left, Paddy Daintith and Tory Weatherall reading Māori and English versions of a story to the students of Bluff Community School.