Not a boot camp!

The Cactus group -WCC principal Daniel Murfitt,
WCC staff members, the Neighborhood Policing Team 

Time for a catch up on an important event I attended last weekend - the prize giving for the CACTUS (Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit and Support) programme, a leadership/fitness initiative which 25 William Colenso College students actively participated in over a period of eight weeks.  

These fit teenagers arrived at school at 6 am three mornings a week to work out in a grueling physical programme, which culminated on Saturday with a 8-hour team endurance exercise followed by dinner with

MC for the Saturday night, sergeant Phil Rowden
from the Maraenui Neighborhood POlicing Team
talking about some of his experiences on the course

whanau and instructors at the RSA. 

Not one participant dropped out (or dropped dead, which was what I might've!!) and even on Saturday night they seemed bright eyed and bushy tailed.  

They represented a wide range of students chosen not because they were particularly naughty or athletic, but who simply wanted to test themselves. 

Instructor Pita Llyod with Philip Saiga
and his father, Philip having received
one of the highest awards for effort and achievement

I had caught up with them a couple of times, fortunately only to eat breakfast (or dinner on Saturday) without doing any of the hard yards, and if these are our next generation's leaders, then bring them on! 

The principal's Riverslea
spokesman setting
the stage for the handover

Powhiri for a new Principal

Another more recent highlight was the powhiri at Pukemokimoki marae today for Richmond Primary's new principal - Maurice Rehu from Riverslea School.  

Wearing a stunning korowai (feather cloak) Maurice was brought over by his students and staff and whanau from Riverslea, to be welcomed and "handed over" to his new school family.  

Marae chairman Tiwana Aranui and
kuia Kahu, pou for the marae, pose for my camera.

Maori do these things so well, honouring their leaders by both farewelling and welcoming them with very moving ceremonies that are very fitting for people of this stature.

When the formal welcoming was completed by the tangata whenua, the manuhiri (visitors) spoke and sang then literally handed over their tumaki to his new "home" marae.  

After all lined up for a hongi - I had to bend down to knee level to hongi some of the little ones that had come over from Riverslea - then  we all went into the dining room for hakiri (kai).  

The Riverslea students sing
us a song after Maurice has spoken.

For over half and hour we were treated to the award-winning Richmond choir who performed a wide range of lively songs, ending with the "gangam style" item that some other brave souls joined in on.  

It was uplifting and entertaining, and again instilled me with great confidence in the younger generation!

Pukemokimoki marae

I joined the friends and whanau mourning the sad, untimely passing of Maraenui stalwart Wally Hooper at the Pukemokimoki marae last night then again as he was taken off to his home marae in Te Araroa this morning.  It made me realise how important having our urban, community marae is to the people of Napier.

Last night, I went on to the marae with a group from the Maraenui Rugby and Sports Club (I'm on the committee) of which Wally was a long-time member.  He lay in state, surrounded by his family, as we all paid our respects, cried and sang and then hongied and hugged each other.  Shared kai in the dining room afterwards enabled us to share our stories of Wally, and strengthen our connections with each other.

Since Wally arrived at Pukemokimoki late Sunday night, thousands of people, including Kohanga Reo tamariki,  have come to say goodbye to Wally.  He was a pou, an important senior manager, in one of Maraenui's kohanga reo, E Tipu E Rea Taraia Kohanga Reo, which he had strengthened and supported in very practical, loving ways.  So tamariki and staff from the many Kohanga in the area visited him at Pukemokimoki.

Where else could this have happened?  Today when I attended the church service at the marae, in the whare where he lay, about 200 people were there, till he was carried out the gates and started his final journey up the coast.

If we had no urban marae, his body probably would have laid in state at a family member's house, putting untold stresses and strains on the family, the street (parking problems!) and probably put many of us off visiting.  But at Pukemokimoki, the facility is almost purpose built for people to stay overnight, to host and feed large numbers of people, in tikanga Maori fashion.  It is warm, it is welcoming, and the hospitality genuine.

As well, the marae is alcohol free, so no one was drowing their sorrows - and often creating more! - around this sad event. 

So I'm grateful that we have this urban marae - a truly beautiful place, where our Maori and pakeha history is honoured and celebrated - to allow us all to experience tikanga Maori without feeling like an outsider.  

Haere Ra, farewell, Wally Hooper:  you made a huge difference to those whose lives you touched, and you will always be remembered.