Rangiteauira Leadership Camp

Ka Pu te Ruha, Ka hao te Rangatahi " The old net is discarded and the new net goes fishing". Rangiteauira was the whare wananga established by Tunui the tohunga not long after the arrival of the Takitimu waka to Waimarama. It is fitting that our inaugural Rangatahi leadership camp be named after the whare wananga. With only a few weeks to organise the camp, the whanau all chipped in to make it a memorable experience for our up and coming leaders. All youth (13 - 18 yrs old) were invited to attend the camp by written invitation after their names had been discussed by our Pakeke/ Kaumatua. In the end we had around 24 youth in attendance from a range of schools, both in and outside Hawke's Bay. Friday night was spent getting to know each other with group/ team building games. It was a great night with everyone learning about each other and breaking into teams for the camp. Saturday started with an early morning hikoi to the summit of Te Whanganui a Tara where a wananga was given on key landmarks and placenames of Waimarama. It was the first time atop our Maunga tapu for many of the rangatahi. Although short the walk to the summit was hard climbing. After breakfast and cleanup, the groups started their mahi for the day. Each group rotated in and out of 3 different activities, Kaumatua interviews, building the Maara Kai and Healthy cooking classes. Each of the activities presented their own challenges and encouraged team work and cooperation. It was a great series of activities that the rangatahi found fun and rewarding. After lunch they prepared for the evening activity, a bomfire on the beach. Some of the boys collected firewood for the fire and the group found a nice spot on the beach for a big fire, marshmellows and sharades. Again a fun night was had by all and there were some pretty tired people at the end of it.