Today we visited our iwi for powhiri at the Marae at Umupuia, which is the Mana Whenua Marae of the Ngai Tai Iwi of Umupuia and Tamaki Makaurau. It is situated on ancestral land at Umupuia adjacent to the Wairoa River with Umupuia Beach immediately in front and hundreds of acres of Ngahere (native bush) behind, and as such is unique in the Auckland area. See their website here.
It was a wonderful day for Ormiston Primary School. Our Strategic Leadership Team (Caro, Koral, Heath and Diana) along with members from our Establishment Board of Trustees (Karen Gibson, Alan Curtis and Margaret Patrick), our Governance Facilitator Lex Hamill, and members from KDEC (Carl Ross and David Foster) came together for a powhiri with our iwi -Ngai Tai Ki Tamaki in Maraetai. It was very special being called onto the marae and exchanging greetings, welcomes and introductions together. They shared some of the history of the area and were spectacular hosts.
We spent considerable time learning to sing and sign (using NZSL) a waiata together which was great fun and fostered a real sense of belonging for us all together as a group. We are really looking forward to learning more and working with our lovely, gracious iwi. Our learners will certainly benefit from their knowledge, wisdom and culture.