Encounters 2025 was next level. For the first time, these hands-on learning days were hosted on marae across Te Taitokerau, and the response was huge. 

All three events filled up fast, with waiting lists for Whangārei and the Far North. 

From Te Houhanga a Rongo Marae in Dargaville to Pehiāweri Marae in Glenbervie and finally Waimanoni Marae in Awanui, the settings wove tikanga into every moment, from pōwhiri to whakakapi, creating a rich and authentic experience for tamariki. 

Across Kaipara, Whangārei, and the Far North, over 300 ākonga, kaiako, and whānau took part in rotations designed to spark curiosity and connection: 

• Te Ao o te tuna – exploring the world of eels
• Te mana o te whakairo – learning carving patterns and their meanings
• Ngā taonga tākaro – playing traditional Māori games that build teamwork
• Rongoā Māori – discovering healing plants and making kawakawa balm (Far North only)  

Each day had a common flavour, including tasting tuna patē (a surprise favourite at every Encounter), and shared threads of cultural learning and connection to te taiao.

At the same time, each marae brought its own unique experiences. 

At Te Houhanga a Rongo Marae, they learned to play the traditional game Ki-o-Rahi with Ngāti Hine Health Trust, observed eel behaviour up close with Te Hokinga Tuna, and crafted carving patterns with Matua Robert Nathan, Senior Kaiārahi Tikanga Māori at NRC. 

At Pehiāweri Marae, tamariki flew harakeke darts and made poi toa from tī kōuka leaves with Boffa Miskell. They discovered how carving patterns tell stories with Te Tuhi Hopa, and learned how eels help keep the mauri of our waters alive with Te Hokinga Tuna.

At Waimanoni Marae, something special was added: rongoā Māori with Kylie Simeon, where tamariki explored healing plants and made kawakawa balm.  

All events were wrapped in mātauranga Māori kōrero and included sharing ideas on how to take action for te taiao. 

The feedback from teachers says it all:

“I couldn’t believe how rich and amazing the learning was that day, especially for my bilingual class,” Tui Hutchinson from Te Kopuru School said.

“From the pōwhiri through to the end, it was so meaningful. I’d encourage you to do plenty more of these workshops.”

The tamariki from Pukepoto School in the Far North really enjoyed the day's programme which was engaging and fun.

"They were excited about the beeswax used in making the balm and were grateful to be given a balm to take home at the end of the day,” Mereia Ratulevu, kaiako from Pukepoto School said.

A great learning experience for them was seeing the various rongoa: the different plants and their uses as well as the dangers of a few of them - like poison if the leaves are eaten.

Angela Lazarus from Te Hapua School said, “Our tamariki learned so much and were excited to bring their new knowledge back to kura,”

“These experiences have truly enriched the learning we were already doing.”

Thank you once again for a well-organised day and we look forward to having more educational programmes like that in the future." 

The tamariki agreed, “I liked patting the eels and learning about their slime,” while another said, “Kawakawa leaves fix almost everything!”  

Some loved the carving station, and “how simple it is to draw koru patterns and what they mean.”

Others enjoyed learning about the tuna, watching them slither, learning how strong they are, and even making them out of clay.

By the end of each day, the kōrero turned to kaitiakitanga: looking after waterways, planting trees, picking up rubbish and protecting the longfin tuna.

One student summed it up perfectly: “We should always be connected to each other and to te taiao.”

The Encounter events are all about looking after the environment, extending Enviroschools mahi and making links to local curriculum. 2025 showed what is possible when learning is hands-on, grounded in tikanga and connected to te taiao.

And judging by the waiting lists, Te Taitokerau schools are ready for more.