On Tuesday 18 June, both Year 12 and 13 Chinese classes travelled to Te Hana Te Ao Marama, Auckland’s leading Māori cultural centre to experience tikanga Māori and tikanga Marae. We immersed ourselves in Māori culture through many different traditional protocols and practices like the pōwhiri. A highlight of the trip was the tour of the 17th century Māori village and Pā site replica in which we got to view their fortifications and fighting towers. For lunch, we enjoyed traditional Māori food including potato, kumara, pork, and chicken cooked in a hāngī. Overall, this trip was incredibly enlightening and helped us gain a much deeper understanding of the marae process and the early lifestyle of Māori ancestors.
~ Chloe Eng 13E2