In week 3 I was able to attend the trip to Hokianga and it was so fun except the last day. On the first day we had to put our suitcases on the bus. I was in group 6 and our group leader was Whaea Shweta, she is a very awesome lady. I was sitting on the Niwa bus getting ready to go to Opononi. The drive to Opononi was tiring.
When we arrived at Opononi the first place I got to see was the Manea footprints of Kupe. It was a very exciting movie. The only thing I disliked was getting whipped. After the movie we left to go on the bus and get changed into our togs to go for a swim. The water was very cold and the current was very harsh. The water was very deep but it was very clean. We were supplied with a very delicious, nutritious lunch. I just liked the sandwiches. They were yummy in my tummy. But then it’s raining it’s pouring. We went back to the bus. There’s water on our clothes and it’s very cold. We headed over to the Mataitaua marae for a powhiri and a story about the area. I had to do the mihi. Whaea Janine taught us about the area and it was very cool to learn something new. All the boys, including me because I’m a boy, left to go to the Te Rangatahi marae to set up our beds.
The second day of the trip we woke up in the morning getting ready to go hike the maunga Whakarongorua. It was a struggle to find a spot to stop to climb the humongous and treacherous maunga. Climbing the maunga I’ve reached an understanding, there was a tree at the top and it was very old and hollow. After the hike up the maunga we went to the Mangungu mission house to see the history of the place. They had the treaty signings and a scary music box. Not much happened after we just had lunch and went to the forest pools. We came back, played then had dinner.
The very last day wasn’t quite a good one. My shoes were wet and we had to clean the maraes. I left my shoes alone for a couple of seconds and they disappeared. We left the marae to go for a walk to a dirty creek. I walked the whole thing without shoes. It was disgusting. We left the creek to go to Paihia. I didn´t have any togs so I wasn’t allowed to swim. Then we were going back to the school to get ready to go home. I had to wait for ages for my shoes and go home. The trip overall was so tough I should remember to bring my towels.