Student duo show enterprise with marae visit

Two Kuranui College students have helped broaden the cultural horizons of about 100 of their younger schoolmates through a Matariki celebration the pair organised at Papawai Marae.

Year 10 friends Pauline Maraki, 14 - Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Porou, Ngati Tuhoe - and Sacha Thomas, 15, said they had started arranging a Year 9 cultural experience in Term 1 that comprised a tour and overnight stay at Papawai Marae this week for Year 9 students.

The visits were completed on Wednesday and Thursday under lead teacher Ken Ryan as part of enterprise studies for the pair of student organisers.

Included in the stay was a tour of the historic marae and wharenui, instruction in protocol, and waiata and full meals and refreshments that also comprised a hangi lunch for students on each day of the visit.

The pair had to complete fundraising and budgeting exercises for the marae visit and stay as part of the enterprise study, and last term raised about $750 selling coffee from the Kuranui Koffee Kart at the North Island Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships in Masterton. This term, they raised about $1100 selling firewood raffles.

The two friends had overseen hangi preparations completed by a group of Year 10 boys from the school and also had helped prepare breakfast, morning and afternoon teas, lunch, dinner, dessert and supper for the visiting Year 9 students.

The girls said they had struck upon the idea of a cultural visit to Papawai Marae because "we never got this experience last year" and the pair felt the Year 9 students deserved the opportunity.

The event planning and execution could also net the pair NCEA Level 1 credits, which they hope to achieve.

Kuranui College principal Geoff Shepherd was supportive of the visit, especially to a marae with such a proud history. "Every New Zealander should take part in the opportunity to be welcomed on to a marae, prepare food and eat together, stay over night, and importantly learn about the history and culture of our Maori heritage."