International pupils from Otago secondary schools were invited on to Puketeraki Marae yesterday in the first ever pōwhiri welcome for their group to the city.
In an event organised between Enterprise Dunedin and Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki, more than 150 pupils and staff from 11 local secondary schools were welcomed into the city.
Mayor Jules Radich spoke to the pupils and said it was a special day for them to have their first time on a marae, and hoped they would view Dunedin as their home.
"You bring a diversity and a host of different cultural perspectives which is tremendously enriching for Dunedin. You help to create a global village and bring us closer together. We value your contribution to our place, and we hope you don’t take long to make it your place, too," Mr Radich said.
"I’m sure, for many of you, [this is] your first experience on a marae, and a memory you will long cherish."
The guests spent the morning at the pōwhiri, which was accompanied by pupils from Waitati School kapa haka group, and then enjoyed a kōrero and some kai provided by whānau at the marae.
Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki kaihāpai Mauraka Edwards said it was a fantastic day, and it was great to see so many young people from outside New Zealand interested in te ao Māori (Māori world view and culture).
"There [were] some young men who just arrived from over in America, who asked how they can find out more about our culture and start to understand Māori tradition," Mr Edwards said.
