Twelve schools from across the Wairarapa joined us on our journey on the 28th May 2009. It was about students and their teachers being ambassadors to take back their learning to share with the whole school. We based it at Pukaha Mt Bruce - the only large bit of the 70 mile bush left. (I think ..)
The inspiration .....
Hapu around Masterton, or Whakaoriori, used to take a yearly journey up through what was known as 70 Mile bush, now only about 2 miles, to a clearing called Hamua where they traded with other hapu and collected resources along the way. The young and fit would go. The older and younger would stay behind. (Kia ora Joe from Rangitaane)
We created an Enviroschools event that reflected this journey. We wanted to focus on looking at our environment through the eyes of Maori as their wisdom about relationship with the natural environment is very relevant - especially because we are so disconnected from it. The concepts of whakapapa, whanaungatanga and kaitiakitanga help us to get our heads around some of this wisdom.
Pukaha is the National Wildlife Centre where rare birds can be seen and are breed to be released locally and in other protected areas. Also there are tuatara and tuna (eel) that are able to be viewed and are protected. Birdlife include takahe, North island kaka, kokako, kiwi, kakariki, hihi and others.
How did we run the day ?
We jumped on a bus altogether to take our journey up to Pukaha. Joe spoke to us about places on the way and introduced us to some plants that were used for food sources and for other uses.
Once at Pukaha we were welcomed in by our local school - mihi to our local environment there - acknowledging the place. We wanted the students and teachers to go away with the knowledge that what was being shared was taonga - treasures that have been collected and researched by our facilitators.
Once welcomed we connected with each other through the land - we mapped out the Wairararapa using some materials and invited the participants to place themselves on their tuurangawaewae - their standing places. Some of us were off the map to the North - to the West or to the South. Some interesting connections were made - one for me I need to follow up as we didn't have time to talk !!
Karakia to the kai and the kai was then devoured - Joe gave us an opportunity to sample berries from the bush and some traditional fried and rewana breads.
Workshops were then offered - Rongoa - wairaukau - Maori medicine based on plants, Harakeke - flax, Tuna - eel. The other half of the group went off on a Ngahere Quest - finding resources in the bush, and using them to make things.
What was cool about the workshops is the facilitators that we ended up with were true treasures in themselves, Joe and Warren - guys with a love for tuna - who are wanting to make a significant difference for the restoration of population, Holly - who studied tikanga, art, and craft of harakeke for many years and passionate about sharing that, Arihia - a practitioner in rongoa.
