Intensive Te Ururoa Flavell-led Te Arawa course chance to recharge and refresh

Te Arawa from around the country will return to work on Monday with recharged batteries after an intensive course at Toi Ohomai over the weekend.

Te Puawananga o Te Arawa was facilitated by Te Ururoa Flavell and was open to both Te Arawa and those who wanted to learn more about the culture.

Raukura Turei is not Te Arawa but her partner is so she jumped at the chance to attend.

"I live in Auckland and don't get to speak te reo enough so it's nice to be immersed," Turei said.

Both Te Arawa and those who aren't attended Te Puawananga o Te Arawa at Toi Ohomai. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Turei said a highlight of the weekend was learning new waiata and performing a karanga for the first time.

"I had a fear around doing that in public. I got introduced to a new way of approaching it."

For Parewahaika Harris, who lives in Hamilton but is from Rotorua, the weekend was a chance to reconnect.

"It can be hard to be away from the culture. It's nice to immerse myself and learn new waiata and be free to be me," she said.

"It's reaffirming my identity ... I feel refreshed and ready to go back to my work space."

Dell Raerino, group manager of Te Kura Maori at Toi Ohomai (left) and Te Ururoa Flavell. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Te Puawananga o Te Arawa first ran about eight years ago but has been in recess for three years.

Attendees are learning waiata, karakia, whakapapa and te reo at Tangatarua Marae at Toi Ohomai. They are encouraged to stay on the marae if they can.

Local man Ruihana Te Nahu said he jumped at the opportunity to learn from Te Ururoa Flavell.

"I came along to add to my kete," he said.

"One highlight was having the opportunity to learn from Te Ururoa Flavell. I'd been wanting to come in previous years but it stopped running. As soon as I heard about this one I said I wanted to go."

Before the course began Flavell said he wanted to make sure everyone who attended came out with a knowledge of at least one waiata, one karakia, one genealogical line and had the opportunity to debate and discuss Te Arawa culture.

During the weekend he said things were going well.

"We will have achieved our goals by the time we've finished.

"I am very pleased with the commitment and effort of everyone."

Te Puawananga o Te Arawa, upcoming courses:
- When: May 18-20, June 8-10 and June 29-July 1.
- What: A course on Te Arawa te reo, waiata, karakia, whakapapa, karanga and whaikorero.
- Where: Tangatarua Marae, Toi Ohomai campus.
- Who: Open to all. Facilitated by Te Ururoa Flavell with help from other Te Arawa experts.