Last week, we took 30 tamariki and rangatahi skiing at Porter’s Pass skifield. For many this was their first time ever on the snow so it was a great opportunity for a new experience and to learn new skills. Unfortunately, the ski field was closed on the second day but we made the most of it by heading to Ōtautahi for Mega Air trampolining! On the way home we stopped at Castle Hill and the new ataahua carvings by Fayne Robinson, learning the Pūrakau of this area, Kura Tawhiti.

Maria Mareroa and Andria captivated kaimahi and whānau at Arahura Marae with their korero on the Divine Spark of the Cosmic Vibration: Healing Trauma wānanga on Friday and Saturday. This was a unique opportunity to re-connect to the Aio force within us and our whakapapa. mana and aroha.

Whānau tried out one of Te Hono o Ngā Waka’s new gazebos over the weekend and doesn’t it look great! It’s a girl!

The Te Hono team were thrilled to talk to youth at the West Coast Careers Expo, and it was even more exciting seeing our lovely Dani on a poster promoting Creative Industries!

On Friday the Te Hono team got together for some whakawhanaungatanga and team building at Lazar Park Hokitika. A highlight of the day was identifying our individual strengths that enable us to achieve great outcomes as a team and creating our waka images to capture this…. and the food of course!

Tamariki enjoyed the after school programme at Whare Manaaki on Thursday afternoon We started the new kaupapa for the new term: Marama (the moon). We used torches to explore shadows, and then made Papatūānuku, Marama and Tamanui-te-Rā from modelling clay. We used these models to explore orbits and the length of days, months and years, as well as how the moon appears different shapes on different nights. We also learned a waiata about the moon. 

- Kaiako Naomi Smith

The July school holiday programme was a hit with tamariki who participated in a range of activities including a movie, the swimming pool and an extra special visit to the Shantytown Education Centre.

Davida travelled to Nelson to pick up our very own new car so we can continue to support whānau across our wide range of services. We are grateful to WestREAP for the on-going use of their vehicles that has enabled us to do our mahi.

As winter well and truly sets in on the West Coast the Te Hono o Ngā Waka crew were out delivering firewood to whānau in need.

Tamariki engaged in a range of activities for Matariki at the after school programme with kaiako Naomi Smith. Each activity was linked to the stars for example, the Rain Train for Waitī, capturing chocolate fish with a spear for Waitā.

Te Hono o Ngā Waka and WestREAP staff celebrated Matariki in style at Buccleugh’s Restaurant with lovely gift boxes from Poipoia Ōtautahi.

The LifeKeepers Mana Akiaki seminar on 22 June provided some excellent tools and strategies for whānau to manage conversations about suicide with confidence.