Something to Remember - By Anna

Manaiakalani Guest's In New Zealand

An Unforgettable experience!

Have you ever had to sit in the hot sun with no hat what-so-ever?

Well, Wednesday 25th March the 12 Manaiakalani Schools including: Tamaki Primary, St Pius X, Glenbrae School, Tamaki College, Panmure Bridge, Stonefields, Glen Innes, St Patricks, Sommerville Special School, Ruapotaka Primary and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Puau Te Moananui A Kiwa gathered at Pt England beach to greet the Hokule'a & Hikianalia Education Leadership coming all the way from Hawaii.

As the whole school walked  to our designated seating place,  we saw our classmates:Natalia, Giovanni and Johnnie.  These student were chosen as leaders to represent our school along with other leaders from the Manaiakalani Cluster, to lead the Haka and Waiata that had been taught by one of the Maori teachers in Pt England over the previous few weeks.   

The whole cluster was talking until the sound of a horn filled the air and caught the attention of the adults and children waiting patiently.  Everyone’s eyes stared out to the water of the Tamaki River to see looked the huge Waka slicing through the shining water towards the  2000 strong crowd.  It was so quiet at that time that heard the anchor drop into the water to bring the waka to a stop. At that same moment, a woman stepped up on the sandy foreshore before us and began a karanga, calling to the visitors and the ancestors.

When the woman finished her karanga,  a mini speed-boat glided to shore, bringing groups of our guest’s to shore.

The leaders started off perfectly singing “E Oho” and doing the Haka that goes with it. Everytime the speed-boat came the leaders would sing until every single person in the Waka had come.

When each guest had left the Waka a man did a  karakia and we our guest’s replied to his speech with speeches in their language. Our guest’s sang a Hawaiian Song and 3 students from Pt England school, said their Maori Mihi’s, followed by a koreo (short talk) about why the Manaiakalani Schools were there and how the word “Manaiakalani” had been formed. After the Mihi’s were finished the Principal from  Pt England, Mr Burt had a little hug with one of the guest’s and told the whole Cluster that it was time for ... ‘The Impossible’ This is where each school (starting with Pt England) got up and walked down onto the sand to personally be part of the welcome by doing  high-fives!
When St Patrick’s had finished high-fiving each guest we walked to our bus and left to school.

It was a great experience to see people part of our Manaiakalani Cluster coming to see how each school in the cluster is working with their Chromebooks. The student leaders were invited back to Pt England school to the Hangi that people from the Marae ( A Carved Building that usually belongs to the local iwi)  What a fantastic experience, definitely one to remember.