Written by South Pacific Students, Talia M. & Madeleine N.
Over the past week we had our final stretch outside of Raglan with the Māori. We spent time with knowledgeable Māori community members, Tiaki and Madisyn. We also spent two days at the home Rob and Rangi Marie who combine many Native American and Māori beliefs and customs.
What have been the three highlights of the week?
🏄🏽♀️ Our group surf expert, RJ, taught the group how to surf. And we caught some waves in Raglan, the top surf spot in the nation.
🌱 Tiaki took us on an afternoon “right of passage” journey. Which many Māori young adults take part in as a transition from childhood to adulthood, that addresses inner growth and fundamentals of emotional maturity.
💧 We experienced the sacred ceremony of a sweat lodge. We helped to assemble the structure and heat the”grand(mother/father)” stones. And took part in the challenging and rewarding experience.
Growth comes with challenge – what are some of the challenges you’ve overcome this week?
“Maa te wa” is a fundamental aspect of Māori lifestyle, which was very present in our experience. We often didn’t know what each day would hold until it was actively happening. This made it challenging to plan and prepare, but allowed us to fully embrace living in the moment.
What are you grateful for this week?
We have been very grateful to have such immersive experiences in the Māori culture. We have been welcomed into communities like family and have been able to learn so much through first hand experience. We appreciate the vulnerability shown by the Māori community and will take home what we have learned into our own lives.
**We’re waiting for photos from this group when they return to wifi connectivity – stay tuned on our social media!