The overarching theme for our studio 322 this semester is cultural difference and diversity.
As Planners in NZ, it is absolutely crucial that we recognise cultural difference and diversity because NZ is such a multicultural nation and we are essentially a bicultural base between Maori and Pakeha. So as part of our learning and recognition of the Maori culture and customs, we were privledged enough to have an overnight stay at a marae in order for us to have the ultimate firsthand experience for Maori traditions and customs.
Our original plan was to stay overnight at Te Hana, but due to an unfortunate bureavement at the village we were unable to and so we ended up at another marae out in West Auckland if I remember correctly.
We were fortunate enough to have Lena Henry's parents (Whaia and Matua) who took us through step by step of Maori customs and how to do a proper Maori greeting with a hongi, before we went on the trip to prevent us from any potential embarrassments!
Whaia and Matua stayed with us throughout the entire duration of the trip and actually imparted a lot of their wisdom with us during those 2 days.
Although I have been on a Marae before, I have never actually received this proper Maori welcoming onto a Marae. It was quite extensive and powerful, so it was definitely an eye opener for me.
One of the main purposes for going to Te Hana was to study the villages community development project. It was really amazing to see these people so committed and driven to achieve this project by fundraising efforts and volunteer work within the Te Hana community.
They are not only trying to build a stronger community base themselves, but also establish Te Hana as a destination in its own right, and not just an area where people drive past.
What we saw at the village will still at the construction stage, and I guess you can call it the skeleton of what is to come. We were even fortunate enough to see the actual plans of what they were planning for where and gave us an insight of why they were also doing it.
Personally, I think it will be interesting to see how the village will transform and how it will look once construction finishes because I will be able to mentally compare the before and after and see how much it has changed.
Here is some of the shots from the Te Hana village
As Planners in NZ, it is absolutely crucial that we recognise cultural difference and diversity because NZ is such a multicultural nation and we are essentially a bicultural base between Maori and Pakeha. So as part of our learning and recognition of the Maori culture and customs, we were privledged enough to have an overnight stay at a marae in order for us to have the ultimate firsthand experience for Maori traditions and customs.
Our original plan was to stay overnight at Te Hana, but due to an unfortunate bureavement at the village we were unable to and so we ended up at another marae out in West Auckland if I remember correctly.
We were fortunate enough to have Lena Henry's parents (Whaia and Matua) who took us through step by step of Maori customs and how to do a proper Maori greeting with a hongi, before we went on the trip to prevent us from any potential embarrassments!
Whaia and Matua stayed with us throughout the entire duration of the trip and actually imparted a lot of their wisdom with us during those 2 days.
Although I have been on a Marae before, I have never actually received this proper Maori welcoming onto a Marae. It was quite extensive and powerful, so it was definitely an eye opener for me.
One of the main purposes for going to Te Hana was to study the villages community development project. It was really amazing to see these people so committed and driven to achieve this project by fundraising efforts and volunteer work within the Te Hana community.
They are not only trying to build a stronger community base themselves, but also establish Te Hana as a destination in its own right, and not just an area where people drive past.
What we saw at the village will still at the construction stage, and I guess you can call it the skeleton of what is to come. We were even fortunate enough to see the actual plans of what they were planning for where and gave us an insight of why they were also doing it.
Personally, I think it will be interesting to see how the village will transform and how it will look once construction finishes because I will be able to mentally compare the before and after and see how much it has changed.
Here is some of the shots from the Te Hana village
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