Powhiri to welcome new students

By: Lesley Murrihy | Posted Friday August 7, 2015

Last Friday a number of children and their families were welcomed into the Amesbury School community. A powhiri is a traditional Maori ritual whereby the host people (those who already belong - tangata whenua) welcome visitors (manuhiri) to our "marae" - school. As a result of this encounter, the manuhiri are recognised as "friends" not "foe" and cease being manuhiri, but now count among the tangata whenua. 

A big pakipaki (clap) to Nistha and Neala who welcomed our manuhiri with a whaikorero and to Sara who led the karanga for the manuhiri for the first time. They were all amazing. To the whole school - Ka pai tou haka! 

Seeing the children spread across the hall in their haka lines, made me aware of how much the school has grown since opening.

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