Raetihi pupils visit marae for 'live-in'

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 609, 24 October 1995, Page 6

Raetihi pupils visit marae for 'live-in'

The bi-lingual class from Raetihi Primary School experienced a 'live-in' last T uesday — a time when the students have the opportunity to put what they have leamt in the class room into practice and to spend more concentrated time on tikanga Maori, the tradition, the customs the protocol of Maoridom and what applies in particular to the haapu of this area, Uenuku. They were visited by members of the Rangahaua Maori learning centre of the Wanganui Community Polytechnic whose tutors stayed on to assist with the learning. When asked "why the marae, why not use only the class room?" they said the marae situation provides an environment and atmosphere which allows the pupil more freedom and more flexibility to express themselves. It is not so structured and is a more practical environment in which to leam particularly when the students can see, touch and be part of the physical things surrounding them. Different protocol applies to different areas. Protocols that apply in the wharepuni are different in the wharekai (dining room). Welcoming manuhiri (visitors) onto this marae in Raetihi would take on slightly different protocols to that of a marae in Taranaki for example. The children learnt more in depth of the various waiata, haka, poi and karanga/mihi. They learnt about who composed the various waiata, the history behind some haka and what is suitable haka for the various occasions, Mr Fisher's Form Two class, Standard Four and Form One visited the marae last Tuesday for a day of games, activities and a shared lunch.