My trip to the Marae

My Trip to the Marae

On Monday morning, I was just in time in going to the Marae. Going with me to the Marae were the Y5-Y8 children. By 9:00, the bus had arrived and everyone was excited to go. As we entered in the bus, some people were sad because they didn’t get to go to the top of the double deck bus but that didn’t really matter. The engine was turning on and we were on our way to the Marae. It took a long time to get to the Marae because it was all the way in Pakuranga. Instead we played a game called Sweet & Sour. After the driver dropped us to the Marae, we walked to the Marae starting from the school call Edgewater College.

When we got there, we had to wait by the waharoa until someone would call us in. We were waiting and waiting and waiting… until a young lady called us in. Rose and Caroline led the karanga until we were outside the Marae. We took off our shoes and entered the Marae. Everyone wowed at the carvings on the wall because it looked so awesome. We sat down on the mat, and listened to the 3 ladies who were talking to us, the tangata whenua. We sat down as we listened carefully what she was telling us. After they talked to us, Bronson stood and said a speech. After his speech, the 3 ladies apologized because there was no gentleman to say something to him. After all that talking, the whole group stood up and sang “Mo Maria”. The ladies sang as well with us. After we sang, the ladies sang to us “Tutira mai nga iwi” and we joined in. After all that, we did the hongi, washed our hands, and went to the kitchen to eat. They served us each a biscuit which was fine.

After eating, we went back to the Marae and we were given an activity to do. The Y5 & Y6 girls were drawing an artwork of a carving on a wall and the Y5-Y6 boys were with the the Y7 & Y8 girls learning how to play and dance with poi. After we did these activities, we swapped over. After that, we had to say goodbye and went out of the Marae. Everyone felt sad, because it was only a short period of time to visit the Marae. That was the best trip ever.

By: Raheal Mengistu