Indescribable

Tuesday, 27 July, 2004 by Donna V. Whitmore

We woke to rain, which was pretty heavy at times. No trip to Mount Taranaki today, as had been scheduled!

Four of us, Cheryl, Karen, Jessica and me, left early for Manukouri School, a grade school, to learn flax weaving. I actually wove two items, both flower-like, one resembling an antherium. The teachers said the other weaving they would call a "flyswatter!" One of our instructors gave me a small basket she wove in the time it took me to get the gist of weaving.

I should have said the weaving came after the traditional Powhiri, Karanga, Hongi, Whaikorero and Waiata with the students, Elders and teachers at the school. Cheryl was our spokesperson and presented a book about Arizona to the school, followed by our Waiata. The Maori presented the four of us with beautiful carved bone necklaces. The students were very sweet, attentive, well-behaved children.

After weaving, Cheryl and I also learned a little about the rhythm sticks and how to swing two soft balls on yarn plaits (I don't know what they are called - we were best at the sticks!

The rest of our group arrived and we shared lunch with the Maoris—students, teachers and Elders. Then we visited their Marae - it is picturebook spectacular, full of beautiful sculptured wood figures done by the men and beautiful, colorful weavings done by the women. Our entrance to this Marae was traditional, except the tradition here is to approach the Marae with the men surrounding the women for protection of the women.

The Maoris performed the Haka, which is very forceful, but these sweet, gentle, kind people seem to contradict the fierceness of the dance. It has a place and is a part of their heritage, but it didn't scare me. The Maoris are peaceful.

Word for the day: INDESCRIBABLE