This year, to acknowledge Waitangi Day, we opened our marae on 6 February, and welcomed locals and visitors to be a part of our festival event.
A day of learning and discussion – about 80 manuhiri enjoyed listening to some of the Māori history of the area, as told in our whare tipuna Kaipō, followed by a delicious hāngī cooked by the traditional Makaawhio method using waitai (white stones) off nearby Māori Beach.
After kai, the manuhiri explored some of the history of the Treaty as it relates to Te Tai o Poutini, while the children enjoyed a full day of art and craft, making poi, heru, tā moko and painting stones as a lasting keepsake of the day.
A huge thanks to our crew who worked so hard to manaaki and showcase our marae to our manuhiri.
Guests listening to a kōrero from our chair, Paul Madgwick.
Kai time for our guests.
Māhaki girls, Charlotte Jamieson and Rohatai Fernandez are proud of their painted tā moko.