For the first time, Te Haerenga spreads its wings to the Auckland/Franklin area Waiuku!

Kawhia, Tauranga and Ngati Raukawa pull up their anchors and head north to Waiuku. People from South and West Auckland also make their way.

Congregating outside Reretewhioi Marae, ready for the powhiri, we catch up with one another and introduce additional crew who have hopped on board the waka.

The weekend unfolds

Friday 7^th March 2008, marked the beginning of the first Te Haerenga noho marae at Reretewhioi Marae in Waiuku.  The haukainga were excited to be hosting, after attending their first noho marae in Kawhia last month.  The weekend begun with a powhiri and catching up with familiar faces.  Then, of course a kai to settle the hunger bugs.

He wa whakawhanaungatanga followed in the Whare Tupuna (Te Whare Aroha) when we learnt that Ray has a bent finger and that Aroha can tell Lucy by her feet, some have tamoko in unmentionable places and others are… just unusual.  The little whare was so full that many sat out on the mahau and watched through the doors and windows.  Matua Jim and Whaea Katie enjoyed all the laughs and bantering as they and their whanau from the marae participated in the introductions.

The Saturday program started with a late powhiri for our guest speakers who were still finding their way which allowed for reciting waiata-a-ringa (action songs).  At the powhiri for our guest speakers Sam Chapman, Dave Moko, Chris Wiremu and whanau, Steven got up to whaikorero on the marae for the first time... cher cher!! 

After a cup of tea the workshops started.  The kids played together with Kaimahi, Rangatahi began their Mautaiaha session with Chris Wiremu and the adults were enlightened by the korero given by Sam Chapman. A hype of activity at the marae provided a buzz that even the kaumatua at the flats across the carpark were inquisitive over.  All under the beautiful weather that we were blessed with for the duration of the noho marae.

Sam Chapman gave an inspirational and thought provoking korero to the adults regarding God’s purpose for Maori.  Some practical illustrations with the use of a 10+ year old lunch box and some various objects helped to identify how Maori feel when they are analyzed by others and themselves.  This led to a study of the biblical story of the woman that Jesus meet at the well.  How did she feel when others judged her in the context of her life and that time?  In comparison to this, how did Jesus make her feel?  The application for us questioned, how do we make people feel when we meet them at the well?

During this time, Rangatahi were being introduced to the intricacies of Mautaiaha with Chris Wiremu in the Big Tent and then….. time to put it into action. 

After lunch everyone went back to their activities. Sam continued his korero except this time each person had to think about what category they were. Some of Sam’s prop’s although unconventional certainly illustrated the points he was trying to get across.

For some, mind sets had been challenged and others reconfirmed. We all came away with a new understanding cultural challenges and diversity in Aotearoa.

Ranagtahi were put through their Mau Taiaha paces after their “theory” lesson in the morning. Some learned that they could jump and that if they didn’t there was consequences. All the Ranagatahi put in their best effort and this showed when it come to water breaks. It was like a heard of buffalo charging to the waterhole.

After an awesome session with Chris and Mau Taiaha, the Ranagatahi were ready for a cool down and a swim. Unfortunately the pools were closed early. This provided a chance instead to go swimming at one of the local watering holes called Waitangi Falls, located just out of town. Some of the bombing techniques of our Rangatahi impressed the locals as they got to mix it with them.

Back for dinner then our busy Rangatahi were off again. This time to Otara in Auckland to meet up with a the Otara Baptist Church (OBC) that were hosted in Kawhia a few weeks previous and were having a fundraiser Hip Hop comp.

While the Ranagtahi were away, the little ones enjoyed a couple of DVD’s and a nice early sleep after a very active day.

The adults had an evening workshop with David Moko who shared firstly of his experiences as a Christian Maori in a rural setting and learning of cultural diversity.  The book “one faith, two people” by Lloyd Martin was referenced as an expression of similarity to those experiences that he has encountered in one way or another.  A number were moved by this and shared of some of their own quiet experiences.  This resulted in a sense of understanding for some and further querying for others.

David shared of his role in the Baptist Church and of a document created in 2000 which aligned the Baptist Church to support the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. It had been developed, ratified and accepted by the church but taken no further. Lively debate surrounded the topic and many were of the consensus that this was a good thing. Dave left the door open for anyone interested in participating on a working group that would advance the kaupapa.

He also spoke of a mission that became an interesting encounter with the Kurdish people which resulted in one of their crew doing a solo haka to a packed auditorium and sparking an out flow of emotion from various ethnic groups.  God using his Maori people in far out places.

By 11.30pm the Rangatahi were back from the hip-hop concert in Otara, excited to share of their night, part of which the OBC Rangatahi did a haka to them as they left the venue. 

Sunday came and after breakfast we split off into our groups again. Adults had a wrap up session with Sam in that we talked further about the lunchbox illustration of “shakers”, “feelers” and insiders. We then described by pictures, two things we celebrate in our Christian, Maori culture and two that we would like to change.  Some interesting concepts were bounced around as awareness was raised….all this to the background music of Sam and his guitar. Kia mau te wehi!

Rangatahi had a music writing workshop with Sam’s daughter. They came out of this with a new appreciation of just what it takes to write a song.  Maybe we can hear samples of their mahi at Kawhia.

After, lunch and clean up we shared of our weekend together and our appreciation of each other.  The whanau of Waiuku agreed to hold another noho marae on 12 April which may include a concert with the OBC. 

The end of the weekend was marked with a photo in front of “Te Whare Aroha”.

All in all, it was an awesome weekend and it was really good to see the roopu mixing, mingling and stepping up when asked.  We were all blessed with the events of the weekend and already looking forward to the next one in Kawhia.  See you there. 

Mauri ora!

Pray for:

• Our next gathering in Kawhia (this is a combined one with Tauranga) Steve Apirana the guest speaker

• Funds to run Te Haerenga

• Changes be made in our lives

Ngaa mihi nui ki a Waiuku, Reretewhioi marae, ngaati te Ata! Mauri ora

Glossary

• Haukainga - Local people

• Powhiri - Welcome ceremony

• He wa whakawhanaungatanga - Time to get to know one another

• Whare tupuna - Ancestral house

• Tamoko - Tatoo

• Kai - food

• Mahau - porch of the whare tupuna

• Matua - Uncle

• Whaea -  Auntie

• Whanau - Relations/family

• Whaikorero - speeche

• Kaimahi - workers

• Rangatahi - Youth

• Kaumatua - Elder

• Kaupapa - Issue

• Mautaiaha - Tradition Maori martial art

• Roopu - Group

• Kia mau te wehi! - Awesome