Supported by Te Ahiwaru, Toi Tangata welcomed a small rōpū of tamariki and their whānau from Te Kōhanga Reo ki Puhinui to explore the many tohu whenua of Ōtuataua Stonefields through the power of play. The day began with a hīkoi, sharing pūrākau at the Kaitiaki Village before venturing into the taiao.

It was also a unique opportunity to join forces with our Mātaiao whānau, who brought added energy and insight as we explored the synergies between Mātaiao learning for wharekura taiohi and Tākaro ki te Taiao experiences for our tamariki nohinohi. We were also thrilled to have Pania Newton of Te Ahiwaru join us.

“I tūhura, i hono, i tākaro ki Ōtuataua - kāore he kaupapa i tū atu! Mīharo!” said Pania.

Together, we roamed across diverse landscapes, from repo and lava caves, to puke and rock forests, all the way to the tātahi where the tamariki enjoyed crab hunting and building ngā toka teitei.

“Our tamariki had an absolutely amazing experience at Tākaro ki te Taiao. It was such a special opportunity for them to be led and supported in a space where te reo Māori was the heart of the programme," said Mereana Toki. "Having the entire experience delivered in te reo Māori was not only beautiful, but also deeply meaningful for our whānau, especially as Māori is my girl’s first language. He taonga te reo! I would absolutely do it again!”

Though a looming āwhā hovered above, it did nothing to dampen spirits, and the energy remained high from start to finish. Centering te reo Māori grounded the experience in the first language of the tamariki, as they engaged in kēmu that brought the whenua and its kōrero tuku iho to life.

“Kātahi rā tēnei wānanga tākaro ki te taiao ki te taha o Whaea Nikki. He rā pārekareka, he rā hōpara, he rā ao Māori. Nō mātou te whiwhi mō tēnei wheako, anō hoki te ako ki te mātauranga a taiao nei. Me mihi ka tika ki a Whaea Nikki me Toi Tangata,” said Jaime McCafferty.

As Dr Penetito-Hemara (2024) reminds us, “When we bring our pūrākau to life through play, movement and physical activity, we bring our tūpuna to life and enable our tamariki to connect more deeply with their ao Māori.”

Check out this sneak peek video captured near the repo, where tamariki activated their inner pūngāwerewere! We discovered a perfect cluster of tī kōuka that created a natural setting for a whare tukutuku - spaces rich with mātauranga. Like the spider weaving its web, our tamariki learned to move with intention, precision, and focus. Give it a go, e te whānau! Try building your own whare tukutuku in your backyard and see where your imagination takes you.