“The use of the function at TROTAK is around telling stories of tipuna (ancestors) — to present a 3D journey around those stories,” says Mr Ruru.
“The difference between us and other people who use it for mapping out boundary blocks is we create a storyboard about our tipuna,” said Mr Ruru.
TROTAK has created 10 stories. The tipuna stories consist of both Maori and English along with an activity booklet.
One of those stories follows the journey of ocean-going waka Horouta, which on arriving in Aotearoa/New Zealand first went ashore at Ohiwa/Whakatane before continuing around the East Coast to Turanganui-a-Kiwa, adjacent to where Gisborne city now stands.
The Horouta Journey consists of three main characters, Paoa, Kiwa, and Hinehakirirangi.
“Some participants in the workshop were teachers so they’re going to take it back to their schools,” says Mr Ruru.
The stories are presented at the HB Williams Memorial Library on the last Saturday of every month as part of the Tuia 250 commemorations.
TROTAK is now delivering its second tipuna story. This is based on Maia Poroaki who arrived in Turanganui-a-Kiwa after the arrival of the Horouta canoe. Maia built his whare wananga at the base of Titirangi/Kaiti Hill and named it Puhi-Kai-Iti. This name now extends to the Kaiti suburb.
“TROTAK has completed 10 stories and has four in development,” says Mr Ruru.
The books are in Maori and English and come with an activity booklet for teachers who will also receive digital copies of the educational resource.
Contact TROTAK for details on the educational packages.
