After a year in which we, as a both country and a school, have really boosted our understanding of and commitment to Aotearoa's shared past and future - being invited to the Tuia 250 Vessels Open Day was an unmissable opportunity.
The Ministry of Culture & Heritage and the Ministry of Education put on a wonderful event and catered to over 1500 kids from around the region.
We boarded the Endeavour replica, the Spirit of New Zealand and three Polynesian waka hourua Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti, Haunui and Fa'afaite. What better way to get a sense of what things would have been like at sea 250... 350... 800 years ago!
On land, Polynesian art and star navigation activities were on offer. We even got a gift bag! We heard familiar stories, like that of Tupaia, and added to our growing 'kete' of knowledge about New Zealand's history - going MUCH further back than 250 years.
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| The Endeavour! |
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| Boarding Fa'afaite, the Tahitian va'a tipaerua/waka hourua/twin-hulled waka. |
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| Exploring Fa'afaite's narrow, tiny cabins |
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| Hanging out in between two hulls |
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| Tahitian print artworks |
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| So many ropes! |
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| Fun with connectors |
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| Fa'afaite |
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| Haunui |
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| Tahitian art prints |
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| Onboard the Spirit of New Zealand |
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| Whare on the horizon - Star navigation |
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| Māhutonga - the Southern Cross |
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| Tekoteko (carving) onboard Fa'afaite |
Tuia 250's karakia is the same one we use after Kapa Haka. Here are the words:
Tuia i runga
That it be woven above
That it be woven above
Tuia i raro
as it is below
as it is below
Tuia i waho
Woven without,
Woven without,
Tuia i roto
as it is within
as it is within
Tuia i te here tāngata
Interwoven with the threads of humanity
Interwoven with the threads of humanity
Ka rongo te pō
Felt in innocence
Felt in innocence
Ka rongo te ao
And in consciousness
And in consciousness
Tihei Mauri Ora!
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