Tūhonohono - connecting rangitahi to te taiao
The Unlocking Curious Minds Tūhonohono project being run at Te Wharekura O Maniapoto has established a Poutautoko who is trialling the educational framework, Te Aho Tū Roa.
This program was designed by the Toimata Foundation to tautoko communities in embracing culture, language and wisdom.The UCM Tūhonohono team is involved in two environmental projects.
Pātaka kai Te Huahua o Kinohaku
The pātaka kai Te Huahua o Kinohaku, named after the ancestress of the area, was blessed by kaumātua Te Pare Joseph and Tame Green. It opened at Te Wharekura o Maniapoto in Te Kuiti in February 2017.
Te Wharekura o Maniapoto’s science teacher Hōhepa Hei (Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Porou) explained he wanted to change the teaching method by incorporating the Te Aho Tū Roa framework.
The food they are growing in the māra kai includes tomatoes, corn, silver beat, watermelon, capsicum, and traditional spinach given to the school by Kaiwaka Riki of Whaingaroa.
Hohepa hopes future projects at the kura will be based on sustainable land care research such as agricultural, horticultural land aquaculture sciences, water protection, propagation of native plants, hospitality, and Māori arts and crafts. Hohepa is encouraging the young people to become involved in their role as kaitiaki of their local toanga and Te Taiao.
Restoration of the Maniapoto cave
Maniapoto is believed to have lived in the limestone cave, in the Te Ana-uriuri region of Waitomo. A large tuna that lived in the stream below the cave was adopted as a pet by the old man and thus escaped the normal fate of fat eels.
Maniapoto’s farewell lament to his people was the following whakatauāki:
“Kia mau tonu ki tēnā; kia mau ki te kawau mārō. Whanake ake! Whanake ake!
Stick to that, the straight-flying cormorant!”
During this term we will be looking at tuna, aquaculture, and how to assess and restore the habitats for the successful revival of the tuna in the local Waipa awa and surrounding tributaries.
The pātaka kai Te Huahua o Kinohaku, named after the ancestress of the area, was blessed by kaumātua Te Pare Joseph and Tame Green.