Wednesday 31st January
This morning we opted to visit Waitangi Treaty Grounds. This is where the Treaty was
originally signed between Queen Victoria's government and the Maori chiefs on 6th February 1840. The history behind it is extremely interesting and the wording of the treaty is thought-provoking.
Our first stop was to watch a Maori Cultural
Performance which involved a group of Maori people singing songs, telling stories, perform the haka and the women in the group performed a 
dance with poi - flax balls that they swing around their heads with great skill as they don't hit themselves in the head, hit the wall or each other with them. No mean feat!
We wandered around the Treaty House and read all about the work leading up to the treaty and the efforts to celebrate 100 years anniversary of the signing.
Also at the Treaty Grounds is a Maori 'waka' which is a 35 metre long ceremonial canoe. It needs a minimum of 76 people to paddle the canoe and it was massive! Joe and Millie both had their photos taken with Barnaby Bear aka Floppy Bear for the purposes of the "Where in the World" Geography project back at St Urban's!!
As we wandered out of the canoe house we saw a group of people paddling their own waka onto the beach just in front of the canoe house. They had an instructor/guide who was teaching them to paddle in the traditional manner. Millie was very intrigued as he was dressed only in a very small loin cloth. From where she was standing she could see his bottom in all it's glory!
Next we visited the Maori meeting house or 'Te Whare Runanga'. The carvings in the meeting house depict Kupe the Explorer. This was designed by a colleciton of Maori tribes. Ususally the carvings in each metting house are specific to the tribe but this one was designed as a way to celebrate the 100 years anniversary.
This morning we opted to visit Waitangi Treaty Grounds. This is where the Treaty was
originally signed between Queen Victoria's government and the Maori chiefs on 6th February 1840. The history behind it is extremely interesting and the wording of the treaty is thought-provoking.Our first stop was to watch a Maori Cultural
Performance which involved a group of Maori people singing songs, telling stories, perform the haka and the women in the group performed a 
dance with poi - flax balls that they swing around their heads with great skill as they don't hit themselves in the head, hit the wall or each other with them. No mean feat!We wandered around the Treaty House and read all about the work leading up to the treaty and the efforts to celebrate 100 years anniversary of the signing.
Also at the Treaty Grounds is a Maori 'waka' which is a 35 metre long ceremonial canoe. It needs a minimum of 76 people to paddle the canoe and it was massive! Joe and Millie both had their photos taken with Barnaby Bear aka Floppy Bear for the purposes of the "Where in the World" Geography project back at St Urban's!!
As we wandered out of the canoe house we saw a group of people paddling their own waka onto the beach just in front of the canoe house. They had an instructor/guide who was teaching them to paddle in the traditional manner. Millie was very intrigued as he was dressed only in a very small loin cloth. From where she was standing she could see his bottom in all it's glory!Next we visited the Maori meeting house or 'Te Whare Runanga'. The carvings in the meeting house depict Kupe the Explorer. This was designed by a colleciton of Maori tribes. Ususally the carvings in each metting house are specific to the tribe but this one was designed as a way to celebrate the 100 years anniversary.
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