2019 RHIP students welcomed
at Rewatu Marae
Rewatu Marae.
RMHS Pou Taahu (Team Leader) Arona Smith korero about the history of the marae.
By Denise Tahuri, Te Pou Kokiri, Regional Māori
Health Services.
In January our DHB welcomed the first group of 2019 Rural Health
Interprofessional Programme (RHIP) students. Not long after starting
the Whakatāne based programme, the students travelled to Rewatu
Marae at Poroporo. CE Helen Mason accompanied them as well.
For several students this was their first noho marae (overnight stay)
experience, so this was a rich cultural experience for them.
The students were greeted by mana whenua and attended a
powhiri. Throughout the day there was whakawhanaungatanga (the
process of establishing relationships). They learnt about the history
of the marae and then went on a hikoi to nearby Te Rauporoa; a
significant place to the people of Ngati Pukeko. It was here where
Kaumatua and RMHS Pou Taahu (Team Leader) Arona Smith
and Rapata Kopae showed the group where local iwi sheltered in
trenches back in the 1860s during the New Zealand land wars.
After the hikoi the students played a game of maui, matau (left/
right). This is a traditional Māori game used to test hand eye co-
ordination and also agility using a rakau (stick). The game’s a bit
like musical chairs. When the leader calls ‘matau’ you move right,
when the caller calls maui you move left, this may seem easy
however a rakau is moved out of the game to make the game
tricky, the winner is the last person standing.
Students then learnt about the traditional Māori Model of practice
which Regional Māori Health Services is based, ‘Ngā Pou Mana o
Io (The Four Sacred Pillars of Io). You can learn more about this by
searching Regional Māori Health Services (RMHS) on OnePlace.
The students also learnt about historical, demographic
socioeconomic and policy influences that have affected the health
of Māori. This created a safe and interesting conversation around
the reality of what inequities look like for Māori.
The hikoi to Te Rauporoa.
Students testing their hand-eye coordination with a game of maui – matau.’
At the conclusion of the noho marae, during the poroporoaki,
(recap of the noho), students described what impact the noho
marae had on them. They expressed their appreciation of having
the noho marae opportunity, and the knowledge that was shared
with them by mana whenua. Many students commented about
how the information was easy to follow and they learnt a lot more
from being on the marae, rather than in a classroom environment.
The following week, back at Regional Māori Health Services, a
session was held focused on improving the health of people living
with long term health conditions. The students heard from local
man Raniera Rewiri who has a strong following on social media
where he posts information about healthy living including kai and
whakapakari tinana (exercise). RMHS Nurse Practitioner Theresa
Ngamoki also spoke about the Kaupapa Māori nursing pilot she is
leading at Whakatāne Hospital.
In 2016 Rewatu Marae became the first marae to be
involved in New Zealand’s biggest team challenge charity
event, Oxfam Trailwalker when it opened up as a checkpoint
for the endurance event.
At the time Julian Rewatu, Kaumatua at the marae, said it
was an honour for their marae, iwi and hapū to be involved
in such an event. "I am hopeful that all the Trailwalkers that
come onto the marae will enjoy their stay,and also a have a
bit of whakapapa instilled in them as well."
Trailwalkers return to the Eastern Bay next month. This year
the course starts in Edgecumbe and again Rewatu Marae is
a key checkpoint.
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