March 21, 2023
Marae takes charge as Waipiro kura cut off
Tamariki in the East Coast settlement of Waipiro Bay are back at school in their local marae after their kura was cut off by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Sarah Jane Heeney, who’s acting as a stand in teacher, says the classes at Taharora Marae were set up as a temporary measure for the whanau staying up there while the power was out in the community.
Even though whanau have gone back to their homes, there were 14 tamariki who couldn’t get back to their kura.
“Luckily we’ve had beautiful sunny days so we’ve been out and about, up the creeks looking a the impact of the severe weather events, we’ve created a mara, just doing outdoor things and utilising the resources we do have available to us. The kids are loving it. It’s hands on, I think that’s what they love most about it,” Ms Heeney says.
Work started this week to restore road access to Waipiro Bay.