Manu korero Recount

Last Week wednesday, Thursday and Friday the year eights went to Northland college for the yearly Manu Korero competition. It was a very inspirational event and it was very very sensibly organised by the Northland college students and the Staff. We had to write a recount about our experience at the Manu Korero competition and how we felt during the powhiri. I was exceedingly nervous during the powhiri but I overcome that as the days flew by. Here is my recount below including some pictures of our magnificent experience, I hope you enjoy!

                     The Powhiri

Anxiety filled the air as we continuously waited
patiently for the Manuhiri to arrive. It was a horrible
rainy day last week on Wednesday, when the manuhiri
did eventually arrive, a large raised voice sprung out of
nowhere and supported by the rest of the crowd, we
upraised the voice of one and converted it into many,
this was when the haka powhiri began. I’ve got to admit it,
the manuhiri crowd was not small at all. By the time the whole group of manuhiri confirmed their seating areas,
the ground was so filthy from the mud and water combined.
I was exceedingly nervous, we were in the corner right
next to the stage were we could be clearly spotted without
a doubt. It didn’t really matter because we very much so
stood out. One by one, the manu korero Trophies began to
fill the tables up that were close by the stage. There were
many speakers that upstood, all mostly from the manuhiri.

The powhiri went on and on and on until finally the last
speaker upstood which was Matua Beauman instructing us all to depart, there were loads of schools that part took
in the big Powhiri. Some of the schools were Kaikohe
Intermediate, Kaikohe West school, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori
O Kaikohe, Northland College, Okaihau college and Kaikohe
East school. This Haka Powhiri was a long process, we were
proud to support our school in such an exhilarating event.
We all then departed and went for lunch outside. We
targeted the red gazebo that was set up next to mr
whippy’s ice-cream parlour. Soon later, we were all called
back into the gym to receive the sequenced order of what
was going to happen next and for the rest of that day.  
Without hesitation whaea Kiri, our host and her husband
called up the first speaker. Little did we know, all these
speakers had to choose a topic off of a certain list and
they had like fifteen minutes to come up with something
to say about their object. We didn’t stay for much longer
after that because it was nearly home time back at our
school. I really enjoyed that day because all the speakers
were inspiring, they had great topics and they explained
it well.