CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS VISIT - 23 NOVEMBER 2022

On Wednesday, 23 November 2022 we had a planned visit from Conservation Volunteers to do some mahi at Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi marae.

We arrived around 8.45am to setup for the day and around 9.00am cars and a van drove up with the volunteers. The volunteers were from various walks of life including a few International volunteers from France and Germany. With the various volunteers coming up to Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi it finally felt like things were getting back to normal after the Covid pandemic.

From Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi marae we had Matua Matt, the Supervisor, along with our Kaitari / Secretary Whaea Leighsah and myself Matua Harry attended to participate in the days events. We also had the pleasure of Conservation Volunteer boss Sonja Urban.

Matua Matt laid the plan of what mahi the volunteers were to do, Matua Harry conveyed the plans to the volunteers and Conservation Volunteer boss Sonja Urban went through the Health and Safety brief. After the Health and Safety brief, the crew got allocated hi-vis vests, some gear and set off to start their mahi.

The tasks for the day involved general maintenance/weeding in our rangatahi garden and in our mara. Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi put on morning tea and lunch, kei te pai Whaea Leighsah for the awesome kai! Shortly after morning tea the crew headed out again to continue with the mahi.

After our lunch Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi showed a video of some of the mahi we do at the marae.

The Conservation Volunteers were a very pleasant group of people from all walks of life, from Lawyers, Programmers from Weta, overseas visitors and some locals, who all took time out of their busy schedule and work life to particpate in the ongoing mahi at the marae to maintain our taonga/treasure.

Ngā Hau e Whā o Paparārangi is truly grateful for your contribution.