Tamariki enjoyed the after school programme at Whare Manaaki on Thursday afternoon We started the new kaupapa for the new term: Marama (the moon). We used torches to explore shadows, and then made Papatūānuku, Marama and Tamanui-te-Rā from modelling clay. We used these models to explore orbits and the length of days, months and years, as well as how the moon appears different shapes on different nights. We also learned a waiata about the moon. 

- Kaiako Naomi Smith

The July school holiday programme was a hit with tamariki who participated in a range of activities including a movie, the swimming pool and an extra special visit to the Shantytown Education Centre.

Davida travelled to Nelson to pick up our very own new car so we can continue to support whānau across our wide range of services. We are grateful to WestREAP for the on-going use of their vehicles that has enabled us to do our mahi.

As winter well and truly sets in on the West Coast the Te Hono o Ngā Waka crew were out delivering firewood to whānau in need.

Tamariki engaged in a range of activities for Matariki at the after school programme with kaiako Naomi Smith. Each activity was linked to the stars for example, the Rain Train for Waitī, capturing chocolate fish with a spear for Waitā.

Te Hono o Ngā Waka and WestREAP staff celebrated Matariki in style at Buccleugh’s Restaurant with lovely gift boxes from Poipoia Ōtautahi.

The LifeKeepers Mana Akiaki seminar on 22 June provided some excellent tools and strategies for whānau to manage conversations about suicide with confidence.

Whānau were excited to korero with NZ’s famous actor, singer and comedian, Pio Terei, about his experiences raising tamariki and building awesome whānau.

Our Mokopuna Ora Kaimahi, Dani Tainui-Simon, collects food donated by New World customers for the Food Bank. Thank you to our wonderful community for pitching in!

The Wānanga for health and social service kaimahi at Arahura Marae was a relaxing day of learning and korero about the history of Ngāti Waewae, intergenerational trauma, decolonisation, te reo and tikanga.

The declonisation workshop at Arahura Marae on Sunday was a safe space for Māori to korero about “some really hard topics”.

The April School Holiday Programme was a hit with participants engaging in a range of activities including a movie, a swim at the pool, beach fun, harakeke raranga plus visits to the Kiwi House and Shantytown. Ka mau te wehi, programme organiser Courtney!