Basking in the ambiance of Umupuia Marae in Maraetai...

Umupuia Marae at Maraetai opposite Maraetai Beach

This last weekend, I spent with my class at our last combined noho (stay over) marae at Umupuia Marae, Maraetai right opposite the beach.

It was a real privilege to have been welcomed onto the marae by the hou kainga (people who are closely associated and/or live on the marae) with a powhiri (traditional Maori welcoming ceremony), shared meals, stories and then slept there and basked in the ambiance (one student described it as) of the environment.

An honour also to share the space with my two amazing colleagues Pomare and Kristin who have been encouraging mentors to my class as well as theirs in learning to understand and appreciate tikanga Maori (protocols) from Maori perspectives as tangata whenua or first peoples of the land.

We were blessed with the opportunity to visit the moana (ocean) and view the sun rising early in the morning and dipping our feet into the sea (too cold for a dip!), we also visited the whare karakia or small chapel onsite, their vegetable and herb gardens complete with worm farming, the big pig Lola and unfortunately I wasn't able to visit the ngahere or bush/forest area as my jandals would have gotten stuck in the mud (as I forgot to bring my running/hiking shoes).

We were also able to drive our vans out with our students to a local river where a wahi tapu or sacred site has, unfortunately, become private land and the burial grounds have been re-landscaped by the current owners. This was so sad to hear the story as for any indigenous peoples, burial grounds are set apart as sacred and to be undisturbed. In trusting that one day these wrongs will be put right for mana whenua, the designated kaitiaki or guardians of the land.

This week, Tuia 250 commemorations are being held at Umupuia Marae, with the replica of the Endeavour ship (Captain Cook's) and a flotilla of waka (Maori and Pacific) sailing vessels berthing near Maraetai shores in commemoration of the 250 years since Captain Cook made first contact to NZ.

I'm hoping to take drive out there with my children so that they are able to witness the amazing Maori and Pasifika contemporary sailing vessels that are designed similarly to those that our navigating ancestors used hundreds of years ago and would recommend this for any who are interested in viewing the vaka, va'a (Samoan word for a water vessel) this week...