Matariki celebrations
A big mihi from the crew at Te Ana (the Ngāi Tahu Rock Art Centre), to the combined Arowhenua Te Aitarakihi kapa haka groups, and to Suzy Waaka and Tewera King, for the awesome performances at the Matariki celebrations. It was great to see our local talent showcased and our local culture celebrated! Also thanks to all the whānau that came and enjoyed the fun. We look forward to even more spectacular activities next Matariki!
Aoraki Polytechnic
Students from Aoraki Polytechnic were asked to develop an educational game about Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It including the history of colonisation within Aotearoa, describing major events and key issues of social change impacting tangata whenua and non-Māori. The impact of colonisation on art and design practice within Aotearoa New Zealand was a major element of this assessment.
This is just one of five groups, each of which developed and constructed games as educational tools. Each group created games to a very high and professional standard. All were perfect as educational tools and were aimed at primary and secondary right through to adult players.
Aoraki Polytechic students including Arana Edwin.
Wetere with students.
St Joseph’s Temuka – visit Te Ana
Te Ana (the Ngāi Tahu Rock Art Centre) kicked off Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori with a trip to the Ōpihi Taniwha site. Over 80 students from St Joseph’s Temuka school were part of the trip. The focus was ‘how ancestors lived hundreds of years ago’.
The children were divided into three groups; one group went to the top of the outcrop with Wetere and learned about ‘three metre high chickens’ (moa), fearsome pouakai and the wonderful food resources of the area.
The second group had a lovely raranga session with Tash and learned about Aoraki and his brothers, and how Māui slowed down the sun.
Tash teaching raranga.
The third group made the big trek down into the Taniwha Gully with Sue to see the rock art and learn how fire was made.
All the action was captured on film and video – check it out on the Te Ana facebook page (facebook.com/maorirockart). The sun shone and all the children (and the guides) got the opportunity to put their reo to good use – a fantastic day for everyone! Arohatia te reo Māori!