Key learning was:

• Māori lived in coastal villages near river mouths as food was plentiful there.
• Unlike in the warmer North Island, kumura could not be grown. Therefore seasonal mahika kai (food gathering) trips were taken each autumn to inland areas including Te Manahuna to supplement food supplies.
• Awa (rivers) were used as pathways. This was easier than travelling overland through forest. Two of the awa used to access Te Manahuna were the Opihi through what is now known as Burkes Pass, and the Waitaki. The Lindis Pass was also an important pathway.
• Limestone shelters were used on the way, and rock art became plentiful in South Canterbury and North Otago.
• The term kai is not only used for food, but for other resources such as the rock which were gathered. 
• Food gathered in Te Manahuna included tuna (eel), weka, putakitaki (paradise duck) and whio (blue duck). Tuna was a dietary staple and tasted different depending on where it was caught. Older tuna that are ready to migrate to Tonga to reproduce were released if caught.
• Mahika kai was also an important time for meeting with others for trading and social contact.
• Mokihi (lightweight waka made of harakeke (flax) stalks and raupo (bullrush) were used to transport kai back to the coastal villages.

Younger students had the opportunity to make a clay tuna, and older students a spinning porotiti. Porotiti were used to move the air around the faces of congested babies, to strengthen wrists, and as a child’s toy.

Next term, we will host musician Bob Bickerton, who will present his taonga puoro (musical instruments) programme.