Our July holiday programme again proved a huge success with over 30 tamariki. Two groups were formed – a teina group aged five to 10 years led by Miriama White and Nelly Mason, and a tuakana group 11 to 15 years led by Mahana Coulston and Jamie Whittle. Each morning we would met for karakia and waiata, then split off to go on our daily plans.
The teina group sat a four-hour first aid course and received their first aid certificates for all their hard work. We had a rongoā day where the tamariki produced their own Kawakawa balm and lemon cough drops (which turned out a lot better than I thought they would), we also had a baking day and the teina made their own muffins and iced them (just in time for the tuakana to come and help eat them).
The tuakana went to the museum and got to hear some kōrero before heading to ‘Bonez and Stonez’ to carve their own pounamu taonga. On the Friday we took them all to the Hokitika swimming pools had fish and chips for lunch and then treated them all to the movies to watch The BFG.
A huge mihi to Miriama Johnsen for our primo kai every day, thank you for all your hard work. It wouldn’t be possible to run our programmes without our kaiako, so thank you to Miriama White, Jamie whittle, Mahana Coulston and Nelly Mason. Also, thank you to ‘Bonez n Stonez’ carver Katene Campbell for showing our tuakana kids how to carve, the rūnanga for letting us hold our programme here at the marae, and Kāi Tahu for making it all happen.
We look forward to the next holidays where hopefully the weather lets us plan things outside (like setting the nets catching some tuna) it is already in the planning stage so we are looking forward to the next holidays.
The tuakana group ready to carve their own taonga.
Tamariki with their home-made baking creations.
Tamariki with their First Aid certificates.
Kawakawa proudly made by the teina group.