Hey kids- Jude has a message for you!!

Tuia 250 Vessels Open Day Trip

The Tuia – Encounters 250 commemoration is a programme of events, education and over 50 projects enriching communities nationwide. It celebrates Aotearoa New Zealand’s Pacific voyaging heritage and acknowledges the first onshore encounters between Māori and Pākehā in 1769–70. Use Tuia 250 as an opportunity to hold honest conversations about the past, the present and how we navigate our shared future. Read more about it here.

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.

The Endeavour!

Boarding Fa'afaite, the Tahitian va'a tipaerua/waka hourua/twin-hulled waka. 

Exploring Fa'afaite's narrow, tiny cabins

Hanging out in between two hulls

Tahitian print artworks

So many ropes!

Fun with connectors

Fa'afaite

Haunui

Tahitian art prints

Onboard the Spirit of New Zealand

Whare on the horizon - Star navigation

Māhutonga - the Southern Cross

Tekoteko (carving) onboard Fa'afaite

A day we'll never forget.

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

Tuia i raro
as it is below

Tuia i waho
Woven without,

Tuia i roto
as it is within

Tuia i te here tāngata
Interwoven with the threads of humanity

Ka rongo te pō
Felt in innocence

Ka rongo te ao
And in consciousness

Tihei Mauri Ora!

Matariki Celebrations

Matariki on the Beach

Today we went down to the beach at 7:00 am to celebrate Matariki. When we were at the beach we gathered round the fire and SHOUTED our maori haka and sung a song. After we listened to some people talk to us about Matariki and the maori history.

After all that we walked up the very, very steep hill to get to school. Once we were at the top of the hill at we all ate our breakfast/ kai that we had packed (mostly everybody had croissants) in Tautoru or Mahutonga. Then we all split into our whanau groups and had a brilliant day.

By Nell

Matariki Celebrations

This morning we went to the beach at 7:00 in the morning. We sang songs by a bonfire and did the haka. We were celebrating Matariki!

After that, John did a quick speech about Matariki, then we all had a walk up and down the beach to remember our ancestors that had passed away.

When we got to school, we went into our classrooms and shared breakfast with each other. Later…The bell rang. Anna said that we all had to go into Tautoru and listen to some speeches. John introduced some people that had come to talk about our ancestors like Kupe and talk about other things like the seven stars.

Dean & Xavier are some experts and knew a lot about Miramar. They told us about Kupe and how he followed the giant octopus whēke. They also talked about kupe climbing some rocks but damaged his penis. Everyone laughed. They told us about what their job is. Their job is to look at different places in New Zealand, which we imagine is pretty cool. They talked about different areas around here. We liked the idea of doing this as a job.

It was the best beach celebration that we had ever had. 

By Evan and Angus

Mihi ki te tangata - Acknowledging People

Kaikarakia Mihi from Matariki on Vimeo.

Mihi ki te tangata - Acknowledging People

It is really important in Te Ao Māori to acknowledge people when they do things for you, represent you or do things on your behalf.

For example, at a hui Māori (Māori gathering), there will always be karakia at the start. The next speaker would mihi to the kaikarakia (prayer leader) as well as any leaders or kaumātua (elders) who have attended the gathering.

On Thursday a number of members of the school whānau as well as experts from the community are coming to the school to help us celebrate Matariki. This is an opportunity for students to speak on behalf of the school community to acknowledge their work and participation in making the day a success.

Every day, we can acknowledge the people in our class and school who do things for us. By giving you a format that you can start to use, you can learn different ways that you can acknowledge people in Māori in your everyday lives. Practice makes perfect! The more ‘active’ your participation, the quicker and more thoroughly you will master this new learning.

Mihi for the Kaikarakia for class every day

Tēnā koutou katoa,

He mihi nui ki a koutou aku hoa i tēnei rā.

Kia kaha te mahi!

Me karakia tātou.

Greetings everyone,

Warm greetings to you my friends today.

Work hard!

Let us say our karakia.

E tau nei ki runga i a tātou katoa te wairua aroha

Settle upon us the loving spirit

kia ngakaunui tātou ki te hāpai i ā tātou mahi katoa

to enable us to work together

i roto i te hari me te koa me te aroha anō o tētahi ki tētahi,

in joy and with respect toward one another

kia puawai tātou katoa.

so that we all grow and blossom together.

Whakakahangia tātou kia mahi tahi

Also strengthen us to work together

kia manaaki, kia tiaki

to nurture and look after

i tō tātou kura, i tō tātou hapori, i tō tātou taiao hoki.

our school, our school community and our environment.

Mauri ora!

Life force!

Mihi to acknowledge the kaikarakia and others

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Tēnā koe __________________ te kaikarakia i tēnei rā.

Tēnā hoki koe Matua/Whaea/__________ mō tō āwhina mai i a mātou ki te ako.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Greetings everyone,

Thank you ______________ our prayer leader today.

Thank you as well __________ for helping us to learn.

Once again, greetings to you all.

Mihi for Teachers to acknowledge the students

Tēnā koutou katoa

Tēnā koe ____________ te kaikarakia i tēnei rā.

Tēnā koe ____________ i tō mihi mai.

(He mihi nui ki a koe ____________ nāu i tautoko mai i a mātou i tēnei rā.)

Kia kaha tātou ki te mahi i tēnei rā.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Greetings everyone,

Thank you _________ our prayer leader today.

Thank you _________ for your acknowledgement

(Thank you __________ for your support of us today).

Let’s work hard today.

Therefore, greetings to you all

Extended versions

Version One

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Tēnā koe __________________ te kaikarakia i tēnei rā.

Tēnā hoki koe Matua/Whaea/__________ mō tō āwhina mai i a mātou ki te ako.

(He mihi nui ki a koe ____________ nāu i tautoko mai i a mātou i tēnei rā.)

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Greetings everyone,

Thank you ______________ our prayer leader today.

Thank you as well __________ for helping us to learn.

(Thank you __________________ for supporting us today.)

Once again, greetings to you all.

Version Two

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Ki ngā mate, haere, haere, haere.

Ki te hunga ora, tēnā koutou katoa.

Tēnā koe __________________ tō tātou kaikarakia i tēnei rā.

Tēnā hoki koe Matua/Whaea mō tō whakaako mai i a mātou i tēnei rā.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Greetings everyone,

To those who have passed on, go well on your journey.

To those of us who remain, greetings.

Thank you ______________ our prayer leader today.

Thank you as well __________ for teaching us today.

Once again, greetings to you all.

Version Three

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Ki ngā mate, haere, haere, haere.

Ki te hunga ora, tēnā koutou katoa.

Tēnā koe __________________ te kaikarakia i tēnei rā.

Tēnā hoki koe Matua/Whaea mō tō āwhina mai i a mātou.

He mihi nui ki a koe ___________ i tō mahi pai.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Greetings everyone,

To those that have passed on, travel well.

To those of us still here, greetings.

Thank you ______________ our prayer leader today.

Thank you as well __________ for helping us to learn.

Well done ____________ for your good work.

Once again, greetings to you all.

Extras

Tēnā koe __________ i tō mahi pai i ngā whakataetae.

Well done ____________ for taking part in the competition.

He mihi nui ki a koe _______ i tō rā whānau.

Tēnā koe _________ i tō tautoko mai/ i tō āwhina mai.

Tēnā koe __________ i tō whakaako mai.

Tēnā koe ___________ mō tēnei taonga.