Haere mai welcome to Hīkoi for hauora
Te Huinga o Ngā Wai in Ngāruawāhia, known in English as The Point, is a public reserve where the Waipa river meets and joins the Waikato River. It was here we gathered to be welcomed by Matutaera Herangi before starting our hīkoi.
- What would you say if you were to welcome a group of visitors to a special place near you?
- Who/what would you acknowledge?
The gateway to Haakarimata walkway
At the start of the Haakarimata Summit track, listen to the story of how Haakarimata got its name.
- What stories are behind the names of places near you?
- Who could you ask about place names you don't know the meaning of?
Ākonga share their Haakarimata hīkoi goals
Ākonga from St Paul's Catholic School in Ngāruawāhia joining the LEARNZ team for the Hīkoi for hauora field trip share their goals.
- Do you have any goals for a hīkoi or similar adventure in the outdoors?
- How do these goals relate to the different parts of hauora?
The story of Pōtatau Te Wherowhero
Listen to a kōrero about Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, a renowned warrior who honed his fitness and wellbeing by exploring the Haakarimata Ranges.
- What could we learn from this story in relation to hauora?
- Are there any stories from your whānau history that relate to aspects of hauora and connecting with te taiao?
Rising to the challenge
There are many different activities we can do to improve our health and wellbeing, and even just participating and having a go can be an achievement. What challenges you when exploring the outdoors?
- What are some activities and sports that you and your classmates do that improve your hauora?
- What are some sports or activities you would like to try?
- Can you think of a time where you had to really push yourself to get through a challenging physical activity? How did you feel afterwards?
How to prepare for a safe adventure
Lauren from Herenga ā Nuku shares ideas about planning and preparation to make sure you are safe and get the most out of your outdoor experience.
- What are some of the important items you should take with you when heading into the outdoors for the day?
- Andrew mentions the phrase "toitū te whenua - leave the land undisturbed". What does this mean for someone spending a day on a walking track or similar?
Get involved in predator control
Trapping introduced predators is a great way to spend time outdoors and look after the environment at the same time.
- Are there opportunities at school or at home, or a local conservation group to help you get involved in predator trapping?
- Find out more about Predator Free 2050.
Take a look at what's in the awa
Learning about the native biodiversity of an area can help you make connections on a hīkoi in the outdoors. Take a look at what is living in a stream near Cascade Waterfall.
- What are some of the names of different parts of the stream that John mentions?
- John says it is a good idea to discover what is living in a stream at night with a torch. Why do you think that is?
Find your next adventure
Lauren from Herenga ā Nuku talks about how to find and access tracks and trails near you.
- What tracks and trails are near your place that you may or may not have accessed?
- Check out the websites that Lauren mentions and see if there are some trails near you that you could plan to walk, run or ride along.
Haakarimata hīkoi highlights
Hear some concluding thoughts about the Haakarimata hīkoi from St Paul's Catholic School ākonga.
- Which student comment do you relate to most? Why?
- What are some things you particularly enjoyed from a recent activity in the outdoors?
