The programme includes learning waka and traditional navigation skills. Photo / Supplied
The programme includes learning waka and traditional navigation skills. Photo / Supplied
Hawke's Bay rangatahi are becoming future kaitiaki, learning traditional Māori skills as part of a new programme.
The Maungaharuru-Tangitū Charitable Trust Whakatipu Kaitiaki – Raising Future Kaitiaki programme recently received a $50,000 grant from the Pan Pac Environmental Trust.
The programme helps rangatahi (young people) to gain knowledge and experiencein four main kaupapa – ki tai – waka and traditional navigation skills; whakapapa – of hapū, history, te reo Māori, karakia and kapa haka; Matariki - Maramataka (Māori lunar calendar), star constellations and native tree planting; and ki uta - ngāhere (bush) experience, native bush restoration, establishing a nursery.
The native bush restoration will start at Ōtātara Pā Waharoa with Te Wai Mauri Environmental Trust and tree planting is happening along the Tutaekurī river.
The programme is delivered by Michelle and Piripi Smith of the Ātea a Rangi Educational Trust.
Maungaharuru-Tangitū Trust Kaiwhakawhanake ā-Hapū (hapu development manager) Johanna Wilson said the programme aims to engage with young people from the seven different Ahuriri hapū and 32 rangatahi have participated in the programme.
"The Whakatipu Kaitiaki – Raising Future Kaitiaki has been an awesome initiative, engaging with rangatahi and their whānau.
"Whānau love it because their rangatahi are engaging in learning cool Māori stuff like stand-up paddling, waka ama, waka tuarua, catching eels."
Siblings Blake and Reese Barraclough enjoyed meeting new whānau at the programme. Photo / Supplied
Siblings Blake, 15, and Reese Barraclough, 14, took part in the programme as they felt it was a great opportunity to learn more about their culture and history and be involved with whānau and extended whānau that are their age.
They said the best part was "being with our cousins and meeting new whānau, we were always together".
They learnt how to navigate where the sun, moon and stars are set to rise, how to steer a waka and their whakapapa and waiata.
Mother Daphne Barraclough said herself and husband Matt saw a change in their children from the first day at the programme.
"Blake and Reese love their culture, their stories of laughter shared with us has been awesome to see.
"The connection my kids have with their whānau in what they have learnt from day one since joining the programme has been awesome, to see how proud they are to be part of this kaupapa."
