Six Lower Moutere School classes visited Heke Whakangā – Looking Back, Moving Forward at the Motueka District Museum last month hosted by Ngāti Rarua.
Packed with information and exhibits from Ngāti Rārua, the students made connections with the book The Story of Whakarewa by Ropata Taylor that they had been studying in Term 1.
“It was wonderful seeing the weaving skills,” said Nevaeh Uerata.
“And to know that not all of the weaving is made of flax,” chimed in Muse David.
“They use other fibres like the woody vine, kiekie.”
Some students were intrigued by the Māori representation in World War Two, others by the two touchstones representing the iwi’s heke from the North Island to the South.
“And they have the only wood carving studio on the marae in the country,” enthused Nevaeh.
Lower Moutere was one of several schools to explore the new exhibition, which will be held until 31 July.
