Te Whakapapa ō Ngati Rehia

 

A massive thanks to parent Kiri Walsh who has shared her artistic brilliance and created these images representing the hapu of Ngati Rehia.

We've entered these sketches into the Resene Wall Worthy competition (https://www.knzb.org.nz/paint-new-zealand-beautiful/wall-worthy-competition/) in the hope of winning some funding and support to have this mural recreated on our school in the near future.

This mural reflects the whakapapa of the local hapu Ngati Rehia. These are the descendants of Tareha a famous Ngā Puhi ancestor who was prominent in the very first interactions between Maori and Pakeha in the early 1800's, just down the road at Rangihoua, the famous site where Marsden Cross is located. Tareha was also a significant Rangatira around the time of the signing of the treaty of Waitangi. 

Ngati Rehia ancestors have been attending our school for close to 100 years, the location of the school having moved from the nearby Ngati Rehia Village of Te Tii to just up the road at our current site over 60 years ago. Today we acknowledge the mana whenua and their place in our school. 

The history, the wahi tapu and the stories of Ngati Rehia are significant elements of the culture and learning in our school. Our strategic plan embeds the goal to ensure all of our students, of all cultures understand the whakapapa of Ngati Rehia. This mural will go along way towards supporting this goal in our school and community.