A Magical Morning: Our Waitara East School Pūanga Celebration!
The alarm clocks were ringing early for this one! Our incredible teachers arrived at school around 5:00 AM, and by 6:15 AM, our amazing students were bundled up and ready to go. It was still pitch black outside, but the early start was worth every single second.
Our Pūanga ceremony was absolutely grand. The darkness was pushed away by the beautiful lanterns shining bright across the school grounds—they looked truly amazing in the dark! Nearby, the Pūanga fire pit roared to life with blazing orange and red flames, throwing smoke out amongst the atmosphere and up into the dark sky. The morning air was filled with the powerful sound of conches blown by our talented students, alongside a beautiful wave of talking, storytelling, and singing.
Feeding the Stars and Sending Our Wishes 
It was a deeply spiritual and special time for reflection. The pot with kai from Waitā was bubbling and boiling, with its steam travelling all the way up into the atmosphere to feed the whetū.
Connected to the skies, we got to share our hopes, dreams, and wishes not just with our school community, but with Hiwa-i-te-rangi—the star of aspirations.
Kai, Whānau, and an Early Home Time! 
Once the formal ceremony concluded, it was time to warm up and celebrate! We shared a delish kai with our whānau, our friends, and the wider school community. It was the perfect way to bring everyone together.
The best part? Because everyone showed up super, super early to make this morning so magical, we all got to head home early for a well-deserved rest!
Thank you to everyone who made this morning possibly and so unforgettable. Feel free to look through our photos below to see the magic of our Waitara East School Pūanga Celebration Day! 
