Kia ora, Ni hao, Dobar dan, Malo e leilei, Hola, Konnichiwa, Talofa, Namaste, Chão, Vannakkam, Kamusta, Hello!

Last week, we used our tomatoes to make a delicious tomato sauce which we enjoyed on pizzas. This was definitely a popular meal!

You can find out Garden to Table recipes in this folder.

Thank you to our specialists Frances, Helena, Johanna, Christina and all the volunteers for keeping our programme going!

Garden to Table is EXPANDING and we're looking for a builder who might have some spare time on their hands to build a deck for us for our garden shed. .We can organise a team of Dads to give you a hand via a working bee too so you wont be alone. We're flexible with our timing and can work around your schedule.

If you are interested in helping and want to know more about the project call Frances Clayton on 021 659277 or email f.clayton@marist.school.nz.

When we finished painting the design, we then decided to paint the background black instead of leaving it plain white. We used a dark black colour paint and very carefully did the background. It was very hard but worth it. We did the matte blackboard paint to contrast with the shiny, pearlised paints.

It took 2 or 3 days to finish painting it. Willow, Leyton and Indie painted the black background and blended the koru designs. They helped to lead our design and painting. After we finished it looked beautiful and we were sure we were the best painters in the whole world. Even better than da Vinci!

You can go and see our tail on display at the Maritime Museum https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/ . It will be there until the end of April. Share your photos with our whale tail with s.white@marist.school.nz.

We all loved painting it and being a part of this amazing project with Whale Tales and the Maritime Museum. The Maritime Museum came to school and collected our wonderful whale tail.

By Leyton, Indie and Willow

We have also been learning about the history of our place, Ōwairaka. Our whanau groups are named after important people connected to our place. Read our reports about Wairaka, Toroa and Ruarangi.

Wairaka

For the last 800 years our maunga/mountain has been called Ōwairaka because of a woman called Wairaka.

Wairaka was one of the most beautiful daughters of Toroa, the chief of the Ngāti Awa tribe. She was born in Rarotonga on an island called Mauke.

Wairaka and her extended family came to Aotearoa on the Mataatua waka and climbed the maunga. They met a group of fairy people and their leader was called Ruarangi. The fairy people were eventually burned because of their pale skin.

Owairaka was named after Wairaka as she lived there for a large part of her life and she took care of it. Owairaka means it belongs to or is where Wairaka lived.

We are connected to Wairaka because we are on the mighty home of Wairaka.

By Roman

Toroa

Toroa was the chief of the Ngāti Awa tribe. He had daughters, one of them was Wairaka. He was a tribe leader.

Toroa travelled across the Pacific and landed on New Zealand. Then he went to land to settle in Mount Albert and planted karakia trees on the summit. It was a sign for Wairaka to find her way home.

Toroa is important because he was one of the first chiefs to discover our place and he lived there for a while. He was also important because he was the chief and the father of Wairaka.

Therefore Toroa was a strong, responsible chief of Mount Albert and is our chief. He is important to our history because he discovered Mount Albert and our mountain was named after his daughter.

By Sarang

Ruarangi

Who was Ruarangi?

Back in 1300 a fairy was born and his name was Ruarangi. His future was decided, he would be a proud chief of the patupaiarehe, the fairy people. The fairy people have pale skin and either red or blonde hair. They lived in forests and mountaintops. When Ruarangi was fully grown, he was ready to be a chief. He was between 19 and 25 years at this point.

Why was he important ot Mount Albert?

Did you know that Ruarangi was an original Maori settler? When he found Mt Albert he was probably like “Wow! This is a great home!” and he settled. The maunga was orignally named after him because it was believed he found it first. He and his patupaiarehe tribe lived on Mt Albert known then as Te Puke o Ruarangi. The mountain has since been re-named as Ōwairaka/Mt Albert.

What did he do that was interesting?

Ruarangi and his brother Ohomatakamokamo were fighting over Mount Smart. Ruarangi and his iwi hid from Ohomatakamokamo and his tribe in lava caves they had made. Suddenly Ohomatakamokamo heard dogs howling and knew where to find Ruarangi. Ruarangi started running and the dogs chased his iwi. They chased them until they got stuck in a narrow part of the tunnel. But then they spotted a crack and one by one they squeezed through. Ruarangi couldn’t escape but Ohomatakamokamo and Ruarangi’s iwi did, they escaped into a creek. Sadly they died because of the sunlight in Pt Chevalier because patupaiarehe’s skin is too pale.

Ruarangi is important to Mt Albert’s history

Ruarangi is very important in Mt Albert’s history and although the maunga is not called Te Puke o Ruarangi anymore, there is still a street at the bottom of the mountain called Ruarangi Road.

By Willow

St Mary's Parish Foodbank is feeding nearly 2000 a month. PLEASE remember them when you are shopping - they are in desperate need of donations! Anything you can contribute will be very much appreciated.

There is a box on the front porch of the presbytery.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support!

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