Yr 9 Tauwhare Marae Trip – UPDATED TRIP DATES

During Term One Year 9 students will spend a day at Te Iti o Haua marae in Tauwhare with their RAPID class. This is a great opportunity for year 9 students, senior student leaders and teachers to get to know each other outside of normal school activities as well as providing a marae experience.

Each trip will be supported by teachers and senior student leaders. Te Iti o Haua marae has modern facilities including separate bathrooms for males and females, a large kitchen and dining hall, and large rooms for activities.

The relationship our kura has with Ngaati Haua is incredibly special and important to us. Giving our Year 9s the opportunity to experience this special connection is a priority, so the trip is offered free of charge. We do ask that the students bring a packed lunch like a normal school day, although food will be provided as part of the pōwhiri process.  

The trip will run during regular school hours, with buses picking up our students and teachers between 8.45am – 9am.  Students will be returned to school via bus before the end of the scheduled school day so they are able to be picked up or catch their regularly scheduled bus. 

Activities the students will participate in during their stay include:  Getting to know each other activities, pōwhiri, history of the marae and area, harakeke (flax weaving), rākau and tītī toorea (Māori stick and rhythm games), and waiata and haka (traditional song and dance). As part of the pōwhiri process, we will have a hākari (or a traditional feast) at its conclusion. We will also provide a sausage sizzle lunch and fruit, bottled water and an ice block for lunch.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact one of our Tauwhare Marae Trip Coordinators, 

• Caseymia Hawkins (chawkins@hillcrest-high.school.nz)

• Jason Maclean (jmaclean@hillcrest-high.school.nz) 

• Rochelle Webber (rwebber@hillcrest-high.school.nz)

We look forward to sharing this experience, often a highlight of the Year 9 year, with your student.