Day 2 Ahipara School

Day 2 Ahipara School

We began the session by listening to one of the students read the story of ‘how Ahipara got its name’.
Apirana wrote down the important names and places in the story.
Students then re-wrote the story in their own words, using only one paragraph.
Students discussed how their tribe, mountain, river and sea are important to the story of Ahipara.

The students then had a go at turning their summary into a poem following Apirana’s format…

The sea at Ahipara

The story (of Ahipara)

Ahipara

Students had 6 minutes. They then shared their poetry (Read poem aloud-eyes are for reading ears are for language)
This is what one student wrote…

The sea at Ahipara laps the golden shore
It cried at my feet like many years ago.
Brave warriors crimson on the sand
Soaking deep staining our land with blood
Fighting for the ever so beautiful beach.
Reconciling after devastating times,
Marriage lights up the shore
Peace at last
Scarlet flames fill the twilight sky
Smoke wafts along the flawless Bay
Offerings of fish and seafood
Imprinting gritty sand like memories of our ancestors
Whitewash hugs the jaggered rocks
Seagulls squeal overhead
This I love more than anything.

After this exercise Apirana shared one of his stories titled ‘Geeks”

We finished with a neat verse…
Thank you poet
For your wonderful poem
May you grow taller
May you grow stronger
May you grow more loving than your poem


Students found today’s task a challenge but really enjoyed tying their knowledge of Ahipara into their work. They are looking forward to learning how to transcribe their ideas into poetry using the tools Apirana will teach them in the next session.