Marae Recount

It was a windy Wednesday, 6th of April 2011. The senior syndicate went on a trip to Orakei Marae and traveled on a bus. As soon as we got there we rushed out to get in a line, then every one started to talk. Finally we scuttled into and through the office into a small room that had a white board and I think there were some awards on top. There were chairs for the teachers to sit on and chairs next to some round tables near the door. Miss Hansell told us to put our bags on the side wall then line up. The boys had to go in the front of the girls, then finally we were at the entrance of the marae.


A lady called Whaea Celeste lead the powhiri. There were children too, taking part in the powhiri. We walked slowly to the marae. There was a tekoteko at the top and an eagle or raven on the middle of a long log with patterns. We had to put our shoes on the side of the walls because that is a rule.


Inside the marae, a man called Matua William greeted us. He let out a speech to welcome us, then a prayer.Then Arapeta told a speech too then Matua William told us a couple of Maori stories about the chiefs of different tribes. He also told us that this marae is like a body. He told us where the spine was, the ribs, the head was the tekoteko, the arms and the legs. We presented our performance, which was Mihi Mai Ra.Then we ate our morning tea.


After we ate, we had to go back to the marae. The boys had to go with Kaumatua to do their thing, while the girls learn' t how to make a poi on t.v with a DVD. We saw some actions too. When we finished watching that, we broke up into three groups. The first group had to do the pois and the second had to do actions and the last group had to use the sticks which are called “rakau.”


We had to line up in rows and and when Whaea Celeste said “Kia Mau” the first row had to hold up their poi and the second row had to put their hands on there hips and the back row had to hold up the rakau in the shape of an X. We sang the song while doing the actions and it was all good. Next we had to eat our lunch.


When we had finished eating our lunch the girls done there performance and when we finished the boys done there haka. When that was finished we sang Mehi Mara again. Khyle and Arapeta went up and gave Whaea Celeste and Matua William a gift from our school.


Finally it was time to go home. I learn' t that knowledge is important to Maori because it is traditional and they pass the knowledge down from generation to generation.


It was a cool trip to visit a marae.

This is Me

I am Elizabeth and I like my netbook because you can play games and you can learn on it.