Motueka
Motueka is a town in the South Island of New Zealand.
It is the second largest in the Tasman Region, with a population of 8,320.
There are a lot of apple, pear and kiwifruit orchards, as well as specialised crops such as hops.
Nearby beaches (such as Kaiteriteri and Mārahau) are very popular with holidaymakers, and the area around Motueka has one of the country's highest annual number of sunshine-hour.
Limestone cave systems (including Harwoods Hole in the Tākaka Hill area north of Motueka) attract cavers and rock climbers. Sea kayaking, tramping and canyoning now attract many thousands of visitors each year.
Many artists live in the area around Motueka.
Our friend Sean Delany works here with the Motueka Baptist Church.
The work is called Mahi-Pai meaning "good and excellent works”.
Through Mahi-Pai, Sean connects with the local community:
- Leading outdoor events and traditional Māori classes
- Upholding kaupapa on local marae
- Running open mau rākau classes in the gardens of the local Baptist church
- Sports coaching
- Leading kapahaka in Kura (schools)
- Working with whānau (family) support
- Connecting the local community with Kura (schools)
Let’s join Hannah as she describes Motueka
Map of Motueka
Memory Verse
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea, and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth
Finlayson Park School
- Drag the canoe
- Heave the canoe
- To its resting place
- Share out the true power
- The bird calls
- The shining cuckoo
- Quee! Quee! Quee! (bird sound)
- Whitty! Whitty! Whitty! (bird sound)
- Gather together as one
This waiata talks about the Pīpīwharauroa (Shining cuckoo).
This is one of our migrating birds that leaves Aotearoa New Zealand for the Winter and returns for the Spring:
Ka tangi te wharauroa, ko ngā kārere ā Mahuru.
If the shining cuckoo cries, it is the messenger of spring.
Trinity - South West Baptist kids’ band
We’d love you to also join in with another song from our filming day in Christchurch with the South West Baptist kids’ band. The lyrics and guitar tabs are on our resources page.
Māori Fried Bread
Try making some fried bread at home. The recipe is on the video and is also downloadable from our resources page.
Prayer Request
Please pray for safe homes for tamariki (children) and for increased engagement between families and local kura (schools).
In this video Tamas leads us in prayer, a prayer of listening and unity. This karakia (prayer) is commonly used in our schools.
Jesus and the Storm
Matariki reminds us how God sustains our life through our connection to the natural world. Four of the stars in the Matariki constellation represent water and weather. Waitī (fresh water food from rivers and lakes) Waitā (oceans, and seafood) Ururangi (Wind) Waipunarangi (Rain).
In the story of Jesus and the Storm the disciples are confronted with all these elements in full force… The script for this story is on the resources page: Jesus and the Storm.pdf
Weaving Activity
We would love to invite you to weave a Matariki Star and send us photos to [email protected]
National Waka Hourua Festival
In April 2024 we were invited to attend the National Waka Hourua Festival in Kaiteriteri
We’d love you to also join in with another song from our filming day in Christchurch with the South West Baptist kids’ band. The lyrics and guitar tabs are on our resources page.
Long ago Māori ancestors traversed the vast Te Moananui a Kiwa (The Pacific Ocean) for over 4,000 years before arriving in Aotearoa New Zealand. The knowledge and practices developed and refined over many generations connects Pacific peoples with the sea, sky, land and each other.
Today, several waka hourua (double hulled) canoe societies and trusts in Aotearoa have formed the backbone of the waka hourua resurgence and continue to actively revive practices of double hulled canoeing.
In support and celebration of this resurgence, Te Hau Kōmaru Charitable Trust hosts a biannual National Waka Hourua Festival to bring together kaupapa waka experts from across the country to share their knowledge of waka hourua.
The role of the festival is to raise awareness, share knowledge, protect and connect people of Aotearoa to waka hourua and their story.
Whiria Content
You might like to use our content in different ways. Perhaps:
- For an ‘all-in’ intergenerational service
- A starter activity for your Sunday children’s programme
- Or, your whole children’s programme
- Or, for home-based activities
We also have Whiria Kids badges available for children to earn by learning memory verses, attending Whiria sessions and joining projects. Up to you how you choose to award these and you can order them here
