Where little hands, curious minds, and wild herbs come alive!
Today, our tamariki set off on an adventure into the realm of Haumiatiketike, the atua of wild plants, growth, and the untouched beauty of the natural world.
With baskets in hand and excitement in their step, we wandered through our maara collecting handfuls of lavender, rosemary, parsley, and the lush leaves that whisper stories when the wind moves through them. Back inside, these treasures became the heart of our play-dough exploration.
As the tamariki kneaded, squashed, rolled, and folded the dough, the scents of our maara filled the room—lavender drifting gently through the air, rosemary sparking memories of home cooking, parsley sprinkling its fresh green aroma into the mix. Each movement, each breath, each curious poke of a tiny finger connected our tamariki back to the whenua and the atua who watches over our gardens.
The koorero that flowed was as rich as the colours in their creations. Tamariki wondered why the lavender was purple, why rosemary is so spiky, and whether Haumiatiketike himself might wander through our gardens at night, checking on his leafy friends.
Their ideas were bold, brave, and beautifully them—perfectly wrapped in our Home of the Brave philosophy: Be bold. Be brave. Be you. And as the scent of herbs lingered around their finished masterpieces, the wisdom of our people whispered beside them: “He kaakano ahau i ruia mai i Rangiaatea.” (I am a seed born of greatness.)