I have now visited the three schools. While the schools are quite different, they are remarkably similar in what they hope to achieve. I guess that says something about the rich history and prehistory of the area.
Opotiki College is working on a magazine called Our Town, Our Stories. The first visit was getting to know each other. I introduced myself with a presentation covering aspects of writing and the life of a professionl writer. We have since visited the local beach where much of the history took place, followed by a trip to the impressive Opotiki Museum. Today we have to start bringing our ideas together so that the writing can begin.
Waiotahi Valley School is a few kilometres west of Opotiki. Students at the school are involved in the replanting of an island in the Ohiwa Harbour - Whangakopikopiko Island. Over a hundred years or so, the island has been made barren by rabbits. The students are going to bring it back to life. And that's what we are going to do with our writing. We are going to give the island mauri so that it can tell stories of what it has seen and experienced in the past. We will collect these stories into a book.
Omarumutu School is to the east of Opotiki, tucked under the ancient maunga Makeo. Weka have returned to this area with one often being seen on the school grounds. This weka is to be our story teller. He or she (yet to be decided) will tell the history of the area from an indigeous bird's point of view. While the stories will be based on hisory, they may be either fictional or factual.
That's the plan, and hopefully after the next few visits it will be well on its way.
Des Hunt
17 March 2011
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