The Trip To The Orakei Marae

By Rogan Lang Frazer


When Rm 17 when to the Orakei Marae they were welcomed by a Whaea that sang to them in Maori about the big war that happened thirty years ago, it was WWII. Then when they were inside they learnt about the Fire last Year and Maori heritage.

Then they got told about the Maori Waka, this can hold one hundred and eighty, one hundred and twenty to row and sixty to rest in the middle. They learnt the One Tree Hill tree wood is there drying out for a new carving going around New Zealand.

Then they said goodbye and said thank you to the bus driver, parents that help out ,and then went back to school.

Come On Guys Get Maori Wise

By Thomas Robson

On a dead hot day a bus pulled up outside the Orakei Marae and out jumped a rowdy group of Ponsonby Intermediate students.

They all lined up in lines outside the marae awaiting to be welcomed onto the marvellous marae. Bob and Whaea lead them into the wharenui (meeting house). It was immaculate with all the carvings. Bob and whaea started to sing a well-known karanga (song). The students followed with a powhiri. It was not as good as they had just listened to.

After hearing a long hours worth of the marae’s history, the students were allowed to explore the marae. They all sprinted to a wonderful site. It was the tree from One Tree Hill. It was going to be carved and given to another iwi.

“Students, Ms. Lawson yelled, “Time to go.” Everyone jumped up and ran to the bus.

Two Classes and a Maori

By Niwa Sumich-Paul

After practising their waiata on the bus, a rowdy group of students from Ponsonby Intermediate piled off the bus at the Orakei Marae. As the students entered the meeting house (wharenui) they started to listen to the history of the iwi and what everything meant. The students sat for an hour and ten minutesd before being stunned by the daylight.

While the classes were shown around the marae there was a large tree cut into sections and the inquiring students were told that it was the tree from One Tree Hill. It was to be carve into ancestors and given to another iwi.

Tired and jittery the children from Room’s one and seventeen piled back onto the bus and drove off in a huffy cloud of smoke.

Orakei Marae Trip

By Saxon Kelleher-Moore

On a scorching hot day, Rooms One and Seventeen from Ponsonby Intermediate were welcomed with a karanga. As they walked they viewed the magnificent carvings of the marae’s ancestors.

The two classes walked inside and listened to the history of the marae. After the talk the students had a small tour around the marae. They saw the huge waka which could fit one hundred and eighty people inside.

The tree from One Tree Hill was also at the marae. It is drying out and going to be carved into one of the marae’s ancestors and then given to another iwi.

After Mr. Wilson took photos of the two classes the children thanked the people of the Orakei Marae and headed back to school.

Wow That’s Big

By Richard Pederson


As they hopped off the bus you could tell they were thinking WOW, that’s big because they were all looking at the huge Waka from Orakei Marae. They were students from Ponsonby Intermediate.

They were Room seventeen and one.They were all happy to finally get to Orakei Marae. Ms Lawson told the students to sit down and eat. Soon Mr Wilson told them that it was time to get up.

A woman came and welcomed them. Soon another lady was doing a Maori welcome. They were soon in a big Marae. The Elder told stories to the students.

Then they got up once again and walked outside. They were told about the Waka (boat). One hundred and twenty people were needed to row, sixty on each side and an extra sixty in the middle. The students were shown the tree from One Tree Hill that was going to be carved and given to another Iwi.

The students headed back to school on the bus.

A Slice of Ice.

By Hayden Gifford

On such a normal exciting day the students of rooms 1 & 17 set off for an ice skating journey. The classes raced off and got in shoe sizes from smallest to largest and after the big riot and fuss it was finally time to get on the ice.

They all seemed to have a lot of fun messing around, skating to the music and standing under the flashing lights. They went away and made a long train until everyone fell over because of just one person.

Everyone had a great, fun and exciting time but they had to leave sometime and that time came very quickly so they all jumped onto the bus and headed back to school.

The Wild And Wacky Marae Trip

By Maluai Samoa Ganado


All the patient and rowdy intermediate students jumped out of the bus at the Orakei marae.

The two classes jumped with amazement. When they were told to stand in the Mahau were they stood quietly and patiently waiting.

Then Whaea chanted the Karanga .Then the students slowly started to walk forward to the marae. Then they all went into the marae and sat down. The two whaea and Komatua Bob introduced themselves in Maori then English.

They talked about the history of the Maori. Then it was time to explore the beautiful marae. They saw the enormous Waka and the tiki house. Also the students went onto the deck were they saw parts of the one tree hill tree. Whaea told the students that the tree would be carved. And then passed onto other ancestors.

Mr Wilson and Ms Lawson to come and stand in front of the marae where they took a photo eventually called the student.

A Trip of a lifetime

By Arama Wigmore

On a boiling summers day a rowdy group of Ponsonby Intermediate students arrived at their destination Orakei Marae, pushing and shoving off the bus .This was part of their E.O.T.C programme.

The children then walked up to the Mahau (entrance of the Marae) and waited in the blistering hot sun , then the Whea welcomed them onto the Marae .The students then walked slowly and casually up to the entrance and took their shoes off.

Then the Kaumatua and Whea welcomed themselves and introduced the students onto the Marae.

They then told the students lots of history about the Marae , soon after the students went to see the Waka . It was huge and needed 180 people to paddle it , also after that they went to see the remains of One Tree Hill.

The elders of the Marae had plans fro it , they were going to carve it and then give it to another Iwi . After this it was soon time to hop back on the bus and head back to school.

Falling On Ice

By Alex Brunton

An eager group of Ponsonby Intermediate students lined up outside Paradice Ice Skating Rink, awaiting the call to let them in.
The students slowly began to file into the rink and hire their skates. Soon after the students started taking their first steps onto the ice the lights dimmed, the music pumped and the spotlights were dancing. After what seemed like two hours a vioce echoed across the rink: "Can Ponsonby Intermediate please get off the ice, your bus is here."
As the students finally filed out and rushed inot the hard rain, the bus drove up, spraying curtains of water over the lined students.

Nice Ice

By Vlad Verlaan

On a blistering hot Wednesday, Rm1 and Rm17 entered Paradice ice-skating to cool off from the heat outside, and because it was their E.O.T.C

‘’Brrrr’’ the children said as they entered the icy cool rink. Alex Brunton from Rm17 was first on the ice after about twenty minutes everyone was on the ice, skating, falling, laughing and having a good time.

The children were on the ice for about forty-five minutes when Tom Robson from Rm17 started a train using a trolley. There were about twenty people on the train when Mickey from Rm1 broke half of the train ‘’Awwwww Mickey!’’ all the students said.

There were pro skaters on the rink they were skating backwards super fast doing 360 degree turns.
When 1 of them bumped into Tom and Arama from Rm17.

‘’ALL STUDENT’S OFF THE ICE, ALL STUDENTS OFF THE ICE’’ a big speaker said. As all the students left the ice realising how great the ice skating was, they packed up and headed back to school.

Seventeen Vist Orakei Marae

Seventeen Visit Orakei Marae

By Kalman Zambo

It was a blisteringly hot day when two classes from Ponsonby Intermediate set off to Orakei marae.

After rushing off their bus, Ms. Lawson announced the arrival of a well-earned morning tea. Following about seventy sandwiches and thirty oranges, the group packed and rumbled to the mahau, meeting place for a traditional Maori welcome.

After a lengthy history talk about the marae, its people and areas by “Bob”, an elder, the group left for a guided tour with Bobs’s Cousin, Whaea.

Of particular interest were the remains of the One Tree Hill tree, several large grey logs, the Marae plans to carve the logs into their ancestors and present them to another tribe.

After a few group photos the Students and Teachers said their farewells and returned to Ponsonby with their memories of Orakei Marae.

Manager Sorry After Local School Complains

By Louis Allison

Terry Horren, manager of Paradise Ice skating rink apologized yesterday after two employees took to the ice during a school visit, injuring students.

Both parents and teachers complained when the children came back from the trip bruised and grazed from the frequent collisions. ‘’I give my most sincere apologies’’ Horren told Ponsonby Intermediate school on Thursday ‘’the employees have been informed of the problems they have caused and I can assure you it will never happen again.’’

Ponsonby Intermediate, who went to Paradice as part of their weekly E.O.T.C trip told Horren that if this was to happen again, they would no longer be customers of the rink.

‘’Our children are precious’’ one distraught parent said. ‘’If anything were to happen to them, I don’t know what we’d do.’’

The Orakei Marae

By Jasmine Kerkmesster

On a stifling morning, Rooms 17 and 1 from Ponsonby Intermediate stood in the shade, waiting to be let into the Wharenui (meeting house.) Suddenly, all eyes turned to a fairly old woman who was walking towards them slowly singing a karanga (a maori traditional greeting.) The students responded by walking slowly to the Wharenui. Before they entered, they took off their shoes and hat as a sign of respect. The kau matua sang a powhiri for the students and teachers. Nervously the students stood up and sang in response. The song was called E Turu Nga Mea. The students were asked to sit in rows.

After that, Bob introduced himself and told them about the history of the marae. Afterwards, sitting down for an hour, it was time for the students to explore the marae.

Outside, all eyes turned to a massive chunk of wood, which was from One Tree Hill. Bob said his iwi would carve it, and give it away as a gift to another iwi. There was also a large waka that took 120 people to row!

Before Ponsonby Intermediate knew it, it was time to go back to their school. They all had a fantastic day and will remember the memories of the marae for a long time.

Orakei Tales

By Brennan Clark


It was a crisp Wednesday morning as a bus carrying a group of raucous intermediate students blasted along on their journey to the Orakei Marae.

The bus stopped to a halt. The students tumbled off the bus like rolling bowling balls and sat down on the grass, which was covered in fresh dew, and ate a well deserved morning tea.

The students, lead by Ms Lawson and Mr Wilson, assembled in front of the marae, and awaited a karanga, the traditional Maori greeting. The visitors waddled as if in slow motion towards the immense wharenui, and walked inside, astonished by the wonders that were in the room.

After brightening up on their Maori history, and learning about the Orakei Marae, their guide Bob and Whea took them back outside. In front of the students stood a mighty waka. All eyes were transfixed to the waka, which apparently needed 180 people to row!

Moving on, the students left, amazed by the size of the waka. Their next wonder to view was the remains of One Tree Hill, which probably was the highlight of the students’ trip to the Orakei Marae.

After the farewells had been said, and the brief snapping of cameras had finished, the students clambered up onto the bus, and slowly, the Orakei Marae became a memory, but the group of students from Ponsonby Intermediate were still filled with their thoughts of the Orakei Marae.

The Long History!!!

By Lauren Scruggs


Wow was the first word Positively Ponsonby students said walking into the Marae.

It was really hot as the students were welcomed onto the Orakei Marae. They stood quietly listening to a beautiful song from the whaea.

After moving into the marae the maori elders explained to the students about the history and how the maori people had arrived to the marae. After the students listened patiently the Kau Matua’s decided to show them around. First was the waka and then the tiki house. The students thought they were beautiful.

Sadly Rm1 and Rm17 had to go. They all said goodbye to the elders and hopped back on the bus. I’m coming back was the comment from most of the students.

DESTINATION ORAKEI MARAE

By Toyah Webb


Orakei Marae was the destination of Room 1 and Room 17 of Ponsonby Intermediate on Valentines Day.

The students were welcomed onto the Marae with a beautiful Karanga , which made a difference from the chitter-chatter of excited students on the bus.

The children entered the Wharenui where the Kau Matua performed a Waiata. Room 1 and Room 17 were then asked to perform a waiata of their own, but they were not worried, as they had practiced on the bus before hand.

Time went by as the Kau Matua told the students their history and many stories. Ms Lawson, the teacher of Room 17, then notified the Kau Matau that they had to go. The children were relieved, as they had been sitting still for an hour. “ I’ve got pins and needles, ” Louis Allison of Room 17 giggled. Just before they left, the Kau Matau gave the children a quick tour of their Marae. “ Once the whole Marae burnt down, “ said Bob, one of the Kau Matau. The students saw a wonderful Waka that could seat 180 people! There was also a little house that had been given to the Marae by a man who had built it for his wife. Someone had lived in it for a while, but now it is used for a store-room.

It had been a great day but is was finally time to go. The students were sad to say goodbye to the Orakei Marae.

Orakei Marae

By Paris Dore.

THE children looked hot as the bus pulled over and fifty students from Ponsonby Intermediate gradually huddled out. They were all excited about their first EOTC programme on Valentines day.

Rooms one and seventeen stood close together and waited for a Karanga (greeting). The classes representing their school proudly walked while a Maori lady called out. They responded with a waiata (song). The classes then sat down and listened to the Maraes history by its owner, Bob. They then followed Bob around the big Marae, and learnt even more! “This is the tree from one tree hill, we are planing to carve it and send it to another iwi”. Bob said as he pointed to the tree. They then hurried off.

Okay now, lets head off to the bus!” Ms Lawson shouted out. The children left on the bus and got back to school, with a lot more knowledge than when they came in.

Orakei Marae

By Ashleigh Leonard

‘E Toru nga mea’ sang the enthusiastic students from Ponsonby Intermediate.
They were on a journey to the Orakei Marae , situated above the Waitemata Harbour.

Shortly after arriving at the Marae they were welcomed with a traditional Maori karanga (greeting).

They then sang their own Waiata in return , that received positive comments from the people of the Marae.

One of the attractions at the Marae was the ancient tree from One Tree Hill. Many hands were raised when told that this rotting piece of wood was once the tree of One Tree Hill. This piece of wood was son to be carved into ancestors and given too another Iwi .

A Little Marae on Top of a Big Hill

By Alana Beerepoot

Peeking out of a small window of the bus room 17 and room 1 saw the beautiful Orakei Marae.

The students gradually walked behind the generous women who welcomed them with a traditional karanga (welcoming chant).

Bob told them some of his dazzling stories about the land and areas that are tapu (sacred).

Bob then led the students to the waka. “ Its enormous “ said Miranda from room 1.”This waka was a very beautiful waka with a lot of history,” Said bob. Bob was very amused by how the student reacted when they found out this waka was hand carved.

Sadly Mr Wilson And Mrs Lawson announced they had to leave the marae.

1 Hour And A Half On The Ice

By Max Netten

THE lights dimmed as Rm 1 and Rm 17 of Ponsonby Intermediate shuffled into Paradice
Ice Staking rink, in the early afternoon of Wednesday 28 February, bracing themselves against the cold air.
As they crowded up to the ice skate rental, shouting shoe sizes into the window, the shoe men were resorted to using spares.

Alex Brunton was the first person on the ice, and also the first to fall over, sliding comically on his knees.
As the rest of the students clambered onto the ice, a voice came booming over the speakers:
“Remember to keep your skates tight around your ankles to reduce the chance of an accident, thank you.” As the announcement died away, the neon green laser lights snapped on, filling the arena with a green glow.
After 1hr of skating the students then decided to make a train, which ended in a heap of people untangling themselves from the ice, muttering and grumbling.

When 30 minutes had passed since the train incident the booming voice once again ceased all the students’ chatter, “Ponsonby Intermediate please get off the ice!” The 2 classes headed towards the rink gates, climbing out their boots (which were later labelled “sweaty and uncomfortable by several students.) And lining up, finally climbing up the steps to the bus
Once again.

A Valentines Treat That Was Very Sweet.

By Conner McBeath

A boisterous group of school children hopped off the bus at Orakei
Marae last Wednesday. Ms Lawson hushed the children as they made there slow descent to the Wharenui also known as the meeting house. This was the start of a weekly E.O.T.C program.

The children were introduced to the kaumata of the Marae, and were sung a lovely powhiri, at which they tried to reply with another powhiri. The children patiently sat in the Marae while the kaumata were talking about the history. “The police came and we had to fight them off,” said Bob, one of the kaumata. “In the end we won back the Marae,” stated Whaea.

After a long history talk they were taken outside and shown the Waka that supposedly sat 180 people. The children were then taken briefly around the Marae.

Eventually they settled on the bus thinking of the great first E.O.T.C trip.

Chopped Down Tall Thunder.

By Tim Bull

The letters came in. It was 1994 and the bickering started. It was the first attack on the thundering tree. It was a Maori man who struck the tree and it was dealt to in a hefty jail sentence.

Six years later it was hit again. This time hit impenetrably and again more controversially. This was an occasion for the government to chop it down, because it was dying. The men came out with there chainsaws and chopped its final root.

This tall tree has been sent to the Orakei Marae, were it will be carved and sent to another Marae. Were it will spend the rest of its life.

Now One Tree Hill is a No Tree Hill and will remain that way for a while.

What A Find

By Bree Cohen

The first time out of school for the best classes from Ponsonby Intermediate was going to the marvellous Orakei Marae. It was a sunny Wednesday and the carvings on the outside of the Marae were sparkling in the sunlight.

The iwi sang a powhiri to the students and Ponsonby intermediate had to reply with a waiata (song). Bob heard room 1 and room 17’s voices all in harmony.

The tree from one tree hill has now been found at Orakei Marae waiting to be carved. The carving is going to be of their ancestors. Then they are going to give the tree, which has the carving on it to an other Iwi (tribe).

It was time to go after a long day at Orakei Marae.

A Little Day Out

by Tim Cotton

After practising their Waiata on the bus, a rowdy group of enthused students from Ponsonby Intermediate jumped off the bus and landed on the grounds of the Orakei Marae. The students of rooms one and seventeen waited in the mahau (waiting house) to be welcomed by a couple Maori elders. Bob and Whaea sung a beautiful powhiri, although the return waiata was not quite as good, the elders were still willing to share their history with there visitors as part of the first EOTC trip.

After one hour of Maori history there was only a little time left for the students to look around the grounds. One of the most amazing and interesting things at the Marae was a dead tree, but this wasn’t any old dead tree it was the tree from One Tree Hill that had been cut down. Some members of the Orakei Marae had plans to carve the sacred tree and give it to another iwi.

Soon after gazing around the Marae it was time for the students to head back to more work and finish off their Valentines Day.

The Amazing and Beautiful Orakei Marae

By Kallen Ranga


Two intermediate classes from Ponsonby went to the marvellous Orakei Marae for their E.O.T.C experience. It was a beautiful Valentines Day as they travelled to their destination.

The children were amazed as they stood under the Mahau (waiting place). As they were being welcomed, Maluai commented that the carvings were beautiful.

As part of protocol everyone had to remove their shoes. The nerves were high as Rooms 17 & 1 sang their waiata calles E Toru Nga Mea. The time flew by as the students learnt a lot about the Maori history, from Whaea and Bob.

Then it was time to explore the marae as Bob lead the group to the great waka [like an canoe]. The waka needed 120 people to row. It was huge. The students also saw the remains of the tree from One Tree Hill. Whaea said that when the wood is dried out it will be carved into ancesters and given to another iwi.

After a long, fun day both classes boarded the bus and headed back to school, all commenting on the marvellous day they’d had at the outstanding Orakei Marae.

Orakei Marae

By Ashleigh Leonard

‘E toru nga mea’, sang the students from rooms 1 and 17 of Ponsonby Intermediate. They were on their way to the Orakei Marae for their weekly E.O.T.C (education outside the classroom) trip.

After the long and boring bus trip, they were told to sit and eat their lunch on the grass outside the Marae.

Later on they were greeted by Whaea Morena and welcomed to the Orakei Marae. As the students entered the Marae they were greeted by two more friendly faces, Bob and his cousin Whaea. After they had listened to the brief ‘karanga’, they then started their ‘waiata’. After a shaky start they soon found that all of their hard work and practise had payed off.

Bob then told them some interesting history about the Marae and about what they were going to do with the tree from One Tree Hill. They were going to carve it into some of their ancestors.

It was now time to go back to school and finish some work, Thanks to the teachers and the parents, the trip to Orakei Marae was successful.

DESTINATION ORAKEI MARAE

By Toyah Webb


Orakei Marae was the destination of Room 1 and Room 17 of Ponsonby Intermediate on Valentines Day.

The students were welcomed onto the Marae with a beautiful Karanga , which made a difference from the chitter-chatter of excited students on the bus.

The children entered the Wharenui where the Kau Matua performed a Waiata. Room 1 and Room 17 were then asked to perform a waiata of their own, but they were not worried, as they had practiced on the bus before hand.

Time went by as the Kau Matua told the students their history and many stories. Ms Lawson, the teacher of Room 17, then notified the Kau Matau that they had to go. The children were relieved, as they had been sitting still for an hour. “ I’ve got pins and needles, ” Louis Allison of Room 17 giggled. Just before they left, the Kau Matau gave the chikdren a quick tour of their Marae. “ Once the whole Marae burnt down, “ said Bob, one of the Kau Matau. The students saw a wonderful Waka that could seat 180 people! There was also a little house that had been given to the Marae by a man who had built it for his wife. Someone had lived in it for a while, but now it is used for a store-room.

It had been a great day but is was finally time to go. The students were sad to say goodbye to the Orakei Marae.

The Long History!!!

By Lauren Scruggs


Wow was the first word Positively Ponsonby students said walking into the Marae.

It was really hot as the students were welcomed onto the Orakei Marae. They stood quietly listening to a beautiful song from the whaea.

After moving into the marae the maori elders explained to the students about the history and how the maori people had arrived to the marae. After the students listened patiently the Kau Matua’s decided to show them around. First was the waka and then the tiki house. The students thought they were beautiful.

Sadly Rm1 and Rm17 had to go. They all said goodbye to the elders and hopped back on the bus. I’m coming back was the comment from most of the students.

The Orakei Marae

By Jasmine Kerkmesster

On a stifling morning, Rooms 17 and 1 from Ponsonby Intermediate stood in the shade, waiting to be let into the Wharenui (meeting house.) Suddenly, all eyes turned to a fairly old woman who was walking towards them slowly singing a karanga (a maori traditional greeting.) The students responded by walking slowly to the Wharenui. Before they entered, they took off their shoes and hat as a sign of respect. The kau matua sang a powhiri for the students and teachers. Nervously the students stood up and sang in response. The song was called E Turu Nga Mea. The students were asked to sit in rows.

After that, Bob introduced himself and told them about the history of the marae. Afterwards, sitting down for an hour, it was time for the students to explore the marae.

Outside, all eyes turned to a massive chunk of wood, which was from One Tree Hill. Bob said his iwi would carve it, and give it away as a gift to another iwi. There was also a large waka that took 120 people to row!

Before Ponsonby Intermediate knew it, it was time to go back to their school. They all had a fantastic day and will remember the memories of the marae for a long time.