On Wednesday we went to the Orakei Marae! We hopped on the bus and I shared a seat with Emma and Monique. “We’re all so squished!” I complained. “Right, everyone go on the bus behind us!” Miss Steptoe called. “What now?” Monique grumbled” But we all did it anyway. I ended up next to Alex and Iris, but all the same I still had fun playing cards.
Finally(and I mean finally), we arrived at the Marae. A lady called whaea Celeste showed us our eating place and we all dumped our bags there and we all settled down to listen to her speech.
Next, we were welcomed onto the Marae with a formal Powhiri with Zoe as the caller and Asher as the speaker. We took off our shoes and entered the Marae. Then we did the Hongi, and they spoke their speeches, but they were very interesting and fun too! Then it was morning tea and we all ran off to eat and play.
Later on we made bangles out of flax by weaving. This was my favourite part! While whaea Bernie taught the adults so they could teach the kids, Whaea Celeste told us about a fire burned down all the detail and description on the carvings. Then Whaea Bernie sorted us into groups and I was put into Miss Steptoe’s group along with Oscar,Nathan,Hayley and Sarah. I made a thick, multicolored bangle, and even though I needed some help at the start it was still so fun!
Afterwards we ate our lunch and played outside. I played 44 homes with Emma, Monique, Iris, Nishita, Sebastian and Brooke.
“Hello everyone! Good to see you again,” Whaea Celeste greeted us as we came in.She taught us adance in maori and us some history about a fire that burnt down the houses in the village that she lived in when she was a kid.
Finally, we we went back to school on the bus. I couldn’t wait for the next trip!
The Orakei Marae
