Marae Trip...Week 1

The marae trip was informative and enjoyable. Here are a few photos of the day and a piece of writing...from a slightly different point of view...

Visitors...

It was around 10:20 am when I heard the karanga calling outside. Once again, visitors have arrived to our sacred grounds. The loud undeniable voice boomed across the area and little soft whispers echoed in. I nearly had to close my ears when I heard their screeches while taking their shoes off. I wonder who they are…

 Children, no more than 14, walked in and lined up. There were more than a hundred of them piling in. To be honest, I was astonished. Usually kids these days never go in here. Then I realized teachers were the adults that walked through the door. This has to be a school trip.

 I stared at their little heads as the last one went in and sat. A man started chanting. Of course Were would start the haka powhiri, the others joining him afterwards. The guests watched intently, returning a beautiful song with a matua leading. Whaikorero were spoken and they did the hongi, one by one, all of the children aligned while the teachers managed them. They made quite a lot of noise.

 Were and Erin greeted the newcomers with a smile and started to talk about the history of how we came to be. They separated the students up in teams to admire and look at the parts of the marae. Finally some attention. I bet they’re wondering what’s so special about me. After a minute and forty-five seconds, they sat back at their respective classes.

 The group that had looked at the far wall asked questions. “ Who are those people? And those panels? What are those called?” Their dilemmas are all known by us and we wanted to tell them the answers. The pictures on that wall are our ancestors, those panels are weaved especially for the marae and those are our maker’s kites. At the other far wall, the big yellow circle somehow represented unity, the water and land carvings represent places near here. The other carvings were iwi leaders and our one and only creators.

 After talking about the marae’s history, the carvings and the paintings’ meanings, they thanked us and left, putting back their shoes and walking back to the distance. I hope they carried unique memories back to where they came from.

By Anyssa Mojica