A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for an exciting School Holiday Programme on our whenua! The school holiday programme kicked off our Pou Tangata workshop series.
We began with a warm whakawhānaungatanga session and an introduction kōrero from our Pou Taiao, Anne-Maree McKay, at the Rūnanga office. After that, we packed up and made our way to the Uruti Domain. The tamariki spent the morning exploring the awa, learning to measure its clarity, flow, and pH levels, searching for kōura, and enjoying the natural surroundings. Following lunch, we headed to the Urenui Beach Camp for an afternoon of fun.
Our last day of the programme took us back to Urenui Beach Camp, where we embarked on a hīkoi along the awa to the beach, spotting birds and animal footprints along the way. The tamariki participated in a rock-skimming contest, learned about the local pā sites, and explored the beach.
Anne-Maree led the tamariki to check the kororā nests, and we were thrilled to spot three kororā! The rest of the day was filled with footprint hunting, identifying the birds or animals that might have left them, and plenty of playtime before pick-up.
It was fantastic to see the tamariki so engaged and enthusiastic about learning and exploring the taiao. We deeply appreciate Anne-Maree for sharing her knowledge and skills, Rena Kettle for assisting with the vans, and Kyla Gonzalez for capturing some wonderful photographs. Your support and help made this programme truly memorable. Stay tuned for future events, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon!
