Our first-ever Southern Health School (SHS) Noho Marae visit took place at Puketeraki Marae in Karitane, offering stunning views of the Huriawa Peninsula, Otago.
This event, held on August 27-28, brought together our Senior Leadership team and the Otago and Southland kaiako teams. Our visit aimed to support staff in engaging with and developing local connections at Puketeraki Marae and to better support rangatahi Māori in providing a local curriculum when we support them at our kura..
We were incredibly fortunate to have Matt Bateman (our Kaiwhakatere Māori) leading us on this haerenga (journey). He was joined by, as well as Eve O’Neill, Learne McArthur, and Peter McCoy from the SHS Te Kahui Whakaihuwaka team.
Our activities began with a warm official welcome onto the Marae by Justin (their kaumatua) and Aroha, followed by a hikoi (guided walk) through the Huriawa Pā site and Urupā. During this journey, we gained a deep understanding of the rich history of Puketeraki and the significance it holds for Māori culture, as well as understanding the local landscape.
A highlight of our trip was paddling in a waka across the estuary to a sandbar, which is part of the local environmental plan. There, we planted a native grass, Pīngao, that are cultivated locally to stabilise the dunes. We were also entertained by a curious sea lion that discovered us on the dunes, adding to our adventure.
The Poroporoaki was an emotional and genuine occasion. The Korero reflected our new knowledge of this special place and how close we are as a team. We thoroughly enjoyed our time together in Puketeraki.
