Tū Māia 2023 - Te Waipounamu (Noho 2)

Caroline Nicol: Oh stunning - it's such a beautiful place. I've been here a couple of times, but never been able to go into the marae, so really lovely to see it. And in the middle of winter it's just so welcoming. Warm space, amazing people, incredible stories. 

Craig Kenah: Yeah it’s been really awesome. There's been some really good opportunities to be challenged … those two worlds between Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Pakeha. 

Cindy Wilson: I can sing, but when we try to put the actions together it's a little bit hard! [laughs] I like it. I really like it. I enjoy it and just everybody comes away still singing it. 

Soraya Walker:Being able to see where everybody's at on this journey and then be able to take that back to the staff in our own office and be able to work with them. 

Kate Harrow: It was really emotional hearing Kenny’s story today about the history of this area and taking it back several generations and the effect it’s had on his whānau and the community around here.  

Caroline Nicol: Just loving it. Yeah, I can't believe we're at the second noho and only one to go. This is clearly a highlight but also the online learning’s amazing. Komene and Heperi are just so good at kind of making you feel at ease.  

Komene Kururangi: This mahi is integral because Oranga Tamariki are working with a whole bunch of our whānau who are either disconnected ... disenfranchised. And to us as Te Ao Māori ... Ko te mea tino nui, ko te whānau. The most important thing is whānau.