Pokapoka Visit
As an extension on their learning about Energy, tamariki from Mayfield Kindergarten took a trip to visit a local historical site – Pokapoka, Seventeen Valley
At Mayfield Kindergarten, tamariki had been learning about the energy from Ruaumoko when Wairau began sharing the story passed to her from her papa about the tsumani that washed across our shores many years ago. To empower Wairau with her korero, kaiako Natasha organised a trip to Pokapoka. Wairau’s papa, Keelan Walker, also came and together they shared the history of the site. Tamariki from Mayfield Kindergarten, staff and management from the Marlborough Kindergarten Association and our Environmental Education team had the pleasure of listening and learning about the local history.
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- Wairau sharing her korero
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- Tamariki from Mayfield Kindergarten exploring around the pouwhenua
Many of us drive past this site as we head south from Marlborough, and like myself don’t even know that it is there. Pokapoka is the site where kumara was once stored after it had been harvested and gathered from the surrounding hills. Now surrounded by vineyards, this special place has a pouwhenua with Kupe and Te hau. Pits that were once used for storing the kumara are still there, including one that has had a roof rebuilt over it.
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- Mayfield Kindergarten tamariki looking for kumara (that had been hidden early)
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- Tamariki showing off the kumara that they found
This experience truly captured the Enviroschools Guiding Principles of Empowered Students and Te Ao Māori.
