Waitomo Papakāinga run a FREE Holiday Programme - Whanau Kotahi Wānanga - every School Holidays for approximately 100 tamariki of Te Hiku o Te Ika. This kaupapa is now being offered to the tamariki of whanau who used to attend themselves as tamariki.

The theme for the last Holiday Programme on the Term 3 Holidays was Maunga ki te Moana – giving the tamariki an opportunity to connect with the taiao, participate in fun activities and start building their own networks with other tamariki throughout Te Hiku o Te Ika. Two busloads of tamariki travel to Rangikohu Marae for 3 nights, beginning with Pōhiri and Whakawhanaungatanga. Tamariki are split into teams and are straight into activities that will result in a prize giving on the final day. Every evening, we had pūrākau for the younger tamariki, whilst the older tuakana went into wānanga their dream jobs and put together plans on how to achieve goals.

Our second day was spent at Herekino Primary School, playing sports, representing our teams and developing leadership capacities amongst the older rangatahi.  From Netball to Rugby Soccer and Obstacle Courses, we’re still not sure if the tamariki were as competitive as the adults but it all added to the excitement of representing your team as best as possible.

The following day was spent in Ahipara playing sports, doing kapa haka, cooking up a BBQ and having a sandcastle building competition. A whole day easily spent by the taha moana, giving everyone an opportunity to catch a nap on the bus ride back to Marae. The final night always means pō whakangāhau, welcoming whanau to watch the tamariki perform and showcase the new waiata they have learned at the holiday programme.

The final day starts with parakuihi and the big Marae clean up, packing the busses and sharing reflections from the week. Followed by the Prize Giving, we’re proud that each tamaiti receives a tāonga to celebrate their hard work. The winners, of course, have a much bigger prize as well as those who excelled as young leaders throughout the week.

The tamariki pile on to the bus and we’re off back to Waitomo Papakainga to return these taonga to their whanau.

We love providing opportunities for tamariki o Te Hiku o Te Ika to connect with each other and with the taiao and we look forward to our next kaupapa in week one of the Term 1 School Holidays.