They came from Wanganui, Marton, Tirau, Hamilton and Tauranga, representing tribal connections to Taranaki, Tuhoe, Waikato, Ngapuhi, Tauranga, Waitaha, from a diverse field of occupation and background experiences. Children, youth, adults and family of all ages! and like a school of fish we gathered together in Tauranga Moana, all 65 of us including children and staff.

Embraced by Ngai te Ahi, Hairini Marae was our place of shelter, learning and discovery as we set a new course and pave another track with Te Haerenga Tauranga.

Ko Mauao te Maunga, Te awanui te awa, Mataatua te waka, Ngati Ranginui te Iwi, Ngai te Ahi te Hapu, Hairini te Marae!

The weekend unfolds

As usual protocol began to take place as we walked through the powhiri process - karanga, whaikorero, waiata, hongi and a kai!

Once we all settled into the wharenui we introduced ourselves as we did on the first Te Haerenga in Kawhia. Not all where there yet as some would arrive the next day and later that night like Stu who rode his 250cc motor bike from Wanganui.

With no time to waste, we went straight into learning a new song.

Huikakahu Kawe was our guest speaker on Saturday morning. Huikakahu is the marae chairman, kaumatua and chairman of Ngati Ranginui tribe and has been involved in missions for a number of years. His understanding of God in a Maori context brought revelation as he unpackaged the different parts of the wharenui.

Art has the ability to make the unfamiliar, familiar so that we can look at it with fresh eyes

Chris Wiremu together with some guys from Auckland spent time teaching life principles through maurakau that Saturday afternoon. And as always made an impact as we took hold of spiritual truths through the physical things made.

'the word was made flesh and dwelt among us'

Saturday night we gathered to process the things that were taught and discussed, began learning our second song 'ko te whakaoranga ki to tatou matua' and finished the evening talking about the contribution Maori can have to the international community.

The kids had their own little programme happening as they were learning writing/drawing their whakapapa and  pepeha. Playing games as best as they could despite the weather. They even got to go to the hot pools, watch a DVD and on Sunday started filling in their journal in which they will do throughout Te Haerenga.

Freda had the under 5's covered with little activities throughout the weekend, a mini Olympic thing going on, play dough making and generally having fun with them as the adults spend some time together.

The last session of the weekend Huikakahu challenged us with 7 things that were related to the character of 7 tribes in the bible. Those 7 things were, Materialism, Humanism, Immorality, Pride, Discouragement, Compromise and I forgot the last one :(

Well... All in all it was an awesome 1st weekend despite all the rain. That was kind of it in a very small pipi shell! Our next gathering is a combined one with Kawhia in Kawhia. Steve Apirana is our guest speaker for the weekend.

Food for thought:

Hearing "you've made a mistake" has a different outcome to hearing "you were wrong"

A te wa!

Ngaa mihi nui ki Ngai te ahi, Hairini marae! Mauri ora

Pray for:

• Our next gathering in Kawhia

• Funds to run both Te Haerenga locations

• Changes be made in our lives

• Te Haerenga Kawhia as they have their second gathering on the 7th March in Waiuku

Glossary

• Powhiri - Welcome ceremony

• Karanga - Call

• Hongi - Pressing of the nose and forehead

• Whaikorero - Speech

• Kai - Food

• Wharenui - Meeting house

• Waiata - Song

• Kaumatua - Elder

• Whakapapa - Geneology

• Pepeha - Boundaries defined by land marks, tribal location etc (mountain, river)

• Maurakau - Tradition Maori martial art

• A te wa - See you later