Mana Rangatahi, Kohitātea 10-15

10-15 Kohitātea (Jan) 2016: Koi nei ngā ara a ngā tūpuna.

Duration:                     6 days

Waahi Tapu visited :   

• Rotoiti
• Kawatiri
• Motueka
• Golden Bay (Taitapu)
• Farewell Spit
• Waikoropupū
• Riu waka 

Highlights :

• Karakia for the release of a rare grey spotted kiwi being released at Rotoiti
• Whitewater rafting down the Kawatiri river
• Sand dunes at Farewell Spit
• Visiting the healing waters of Waikoropupū and Riu waka.  

Description :

The wānanga was led by Kiley Nepia, Beavan Wilson and Dr Peter Meihana, with support from kaiako, and heard from a number of experts at the various destinations. Thirty five rangatahi participated in activities that included learning pepeha, waiata, haka and karakia.

They visited and stayed at Marae, including Omake and Āwhina, and listened to tribal histories of people and places.

Nellie Robinson. I liked learning about our whakapapa while going to the places and getting to know everyone way better.  I liked seeing my sisters fitting in straight away on their first Mana Rangatahi.

Horouta Wilson. It was cool to learn about the history of Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō and where our tūpuna would go to heal and also seeing all my cousins and meeting new ones as well.

Kiripounamu Nepia. I loved learning about the importance of wai and all the different ways the rivers, springs and oceans were used. I also enjoyed the nz weather, swimming in the rivers that our people once swam in or travelled in. It's always a special feeling knowing that you’re doing the same things that our tūpuna done. Mauri ora

Paige Smith. I enjoyed learning our whakapapa as we went to different places around Te Tauhihu and I also enjoyed bonding with my cousins again.

Tamaiti James Wilson. I enjoyed watching my brother Maunga grow and come out of his shell way more and watching my brother Ngakau getting in to everything and how he just fitted in.