Our Trip to Te Oro

 

Today two classes went over to Te Oro and, it was my class and along with us was room 10. Last year I went there with a year eight group and it was really fun, so that's how I knew it was going to be even more fun. 

Firstly, we had to walk from school to Te Oro, and it was alright because Te Oro wasn't that far away from our school. Once we got there we had to take our shoes off, and the smell that rushed into my nostrils wasn't very delightful. After that experience they welcomed us into the room they had saved us and we sat down on the whariki (mat). Everywhere in the room were displays and taonga (treasures) of art and plants. All the plants in the room were endemic to New Zealand meaning, that it is native to New Zealand. 

One woman, which was the oldest, explained to us what they mean and told us some stories about the Maori culture. After that Matua Logan, which was one of the teachers, asked us a few questions, if you got it right you got a lolly. Then one by one they all introduced themselves and simply explaining to us what we were doing. After everyone had introduced themselves they asked of anyone was there last year and I raised my hand. 

Then they said if you were in weaving last year you would have to go to Kotuhituhi which was one of the workshops there. I was in weaving last year along with Riko and we had to go over there a take a seat. The rest of the people got split into three workshops, which was weaving, my group and Kowhaiwhai. We all settled down at our workshops and begun our lessons. 

As I said, I was in Kotuhituhi and today I learnt that it means drawing. Our teachers in that time were Whaea Kelly and another Whaea, but unfortunately I had forgotten her name. In front of us was a piece of paper and pencils, Whaea Kelly told us to fold the piece of paper into four quarters which means to fold it in half and then fold in half again. After that we had to open it up, then we started drawing. Today we drew Maori patterns and symbols.

The first pattern was a Koru. As you know a Koru is a part that grows along with the Silver Fern. The Silver Fern is New Zealand's symbol and national plant. This Fern is used in every New Zealand sports team and is also used in Maori art. The Koru was the easiest to draw for me. Our next pattern we drew was the Tino rangatiratanga, this is the Maori translation for the Maori flag. If you don't know what the Maori flag looks like, you can just search up the word Tino rangatiratanga. The third pattern was a Kaokao. I don't really know what the Kaokao is, but it's basically two crescent like figures facing each other, with the letter u drawn onto it after each little line.

The last pattern we've done today was the Taniwha. The Taniwha is a Maori creature that lives in rivers and lakes. It was quite simple drawing this because she explained it really well. Later on, once everyone was finished touching up their drawings, we all went though what we drew an discussed what the meaning was. Our other Whaea then took us outside, and we had to sit on the mat that was just to the left outside. 

We sat there and she explained to us about the stones that were in her basket. She said that the stones that were in her basket aren't just any stones, they are special treasures to keep. Another Whaea also joined in and told us a story about the Godwit. Then Whaea handed us each a Taonga and we promised her that we wouldn't lose it and we would look after it.

She sent us back inside and on the table was some paint that was set up, we only had 10 minutes to paint anything onto it. First we had to rub and blow onto the Taonga because that is a way of asking to paint on it. Once we've done that we got on with painting our Taonga. I drew and green spiral going all around my rock, and I got my inspiration from Moana because in the movie it has the heart of Te whiti. Finally we were all done and all gathered back onto the mat.

Finally there were a few people from each group that was chosen to show and tell the people that were in other groups about what we did in our individual groups. Nia-Jaye, Riko and Junior were the people in my group that got chosen and they had to represent our group and explain to the other people about what we did. The rest of the group had to stand behind the presenters.

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Sorry for the long writing.