1. Woodlands
School Visit Te
Rau Aroha Marae

2. On August 29th Woodlands School
headed to Bluff to visit Te Rau
Aroha Marae, the world's southernmost marae. When we arrived we
had to line up at the amazing gates
and wait to be called in.

3. Outside the entrance were
many beautiful carvings
that towered above us.

4. As we walked up the path,
we saw many more carvings
on the Marae. There were 3
heads from the different
tribes that represent Bluff
and Southland.

5. When we arrived at the entrance to
the Marae we had to take off our
shoes because it is polite and
respectful to do so. Then we entered
the Marae and the best man gave a
speech. Mr Fleming gave the speech
for Woodlands school. We also
offered a kōha which is a gift.

6. Inside the dining hall were huge,
colourful artworks hanging everywhere
After morning tea we learnt about all
the carvings and weavings and what
they meant.

7. Sunrise
Sunset
e.
In Māori the sun is called
Ra. These two magnificent
carvings represent
sunrise and sunset.

8. This bright trail is of the
sun (Ra) moving across the
sky from morning to night.

9. Marama is the moon and
Māori use the moon as a guide
for planting crops and fishing.

10. This beautiful design
represents the cold
Antarctic winds.

11. Above the kitchen were more beautiful
artworks. The bags on the wall were
called kiti and they were used by the
Māori to carry muttonbirds in.
They are made out of bull kelp wrapped
in tōtara bark inside a flax basket. Five
muttonbird chicks were tied up at the
same time and put into the kiti together.

12. Here is Rongo the God of
Cultivation. In Māori
mythology, Rongo cultivated
vital food crops, especially the
kūmera or sweet potato.

13. This weaving represents
different ika (fish), blue
cod and trout
Trout
Blue cod

14. Here is a diamond
shaped design and it
is called pātiki or
flounder because of its
shape.

15. This piece of art
represents the
oyster shell and
we all know that
our famous Bluff
oysters are a
Kiwi icon!
Te Rau Aroha
Marae dining
hall also had
shiny, polished
pāuā shells that
were positioned
along the
rafters.

16. The Kōrua (crayfish) was
a traditional food for the
Māori and was caught
using a bundle of ferns.

17. At Te Rau Aroha Marae we
also learnt the Māori names
for different landmarks. Did
you know that Bluff Hill is
called Motu Pōhua?

18. We had a marvellous
time at Te Rau Aroha
Marae!