During the school holidays Waewae ran our first Fusion holiday programme for 30 tamariki at Arahura Marae.
Day 1
The programme started with a karakia to welcome everyone. They stood to do their pepeha and we sang some songs – the kids were so sharp they even learnt a new song. After lunch we taught them some Māori games.
Day 2
We were so lucky to have two beautiful kaimahi come in for the morning – Tihou Messenger Weepu and his lovely sister Katherine. They showed our kids some games such as Kī-o-Rahi, Takahia Kōhanga, Pūkana and a game called Zombie. Tihou has always been involved with our tamariki but this time it was a double combo. To have two kaiako that were pumped up and all about our tamariki was such an awesome site to see, so a huge mihi goes out to them both and we look forward to you both returning.
For the afternoon session the kids were split into groups and were given instructions to build a pā, this had to include a wharenui, wharekai, pātaka kai, māra kai, urupā, waka, hāngī pit, maunga and awa. After they had finished their plans we took them down to the awa on the sand and let them get creative and while there was a winning team at the end of the day everyone was a winner.
Day 3
Today was a day in the wharenui talking about tikanga and kawa around our marae. We also had guest speaker Te Rua Mason come and talk to us about ANZAC – what and why we celebrate this day. He also brought in some of the medals that had been awarded to his pōua and gave us a kōrero on why he received them. After the kōrero the kids walked over to the urupā and sang some waiata for all the men that served – such a beautiful morning spent together. It was wonderful to have Te Rua come and share his knowledge with us all – thank you so much Te Rua Mason for your time.
Day 4
Thursday was a mahi toi day, getting creative with kite making, mobiles and paintings based around what they had learnt the day before. Most of the tamariki decided to do paintings about ANZAC and all turned out to be beautiful. We also went over some kapa haka songs and played the games we had learnt over the week.
Day 5
On the last day of the holiday programme the kids had a fun day planned – everyone got to chill out in the Hokitika swimming pool, fish and chips for lunch and then to the movies – a very good way to end the programme.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae would like to thank all of the kaiako that dedicated their time to make this holiday programme successful. To our cook Miriama Johnson thank you very much for the yum kai and to Hamiria, Nelly and Miriama White thank you for all your hard work and time spent making this happen for our tamariki – ngā mihi whānau.
Tihou and Katherine show the kids how to play Takahia.
All the kids down the awa for pā wars.
Katherine takes the older kids for Kī-o-Rahi.
Team building skills.