Maori reverend

the welcome line

Toby going along the welcome line

the church

the wall of remembrance

Monday 6th Feb. Went to a Maori welcome ceremony on the Island. We had missed the main dancing and other festivities but were in time for the welcome line. This is where you go along a line of Maori people and they welcome you by saying Kia Ora and either kissing you or rubbing your nose. This was quite a strange experience but was actually really lovely. A lot of the Maori people weren't what I stereotypically expected them to look like, many being white. After we had gone along the welcome line we went into their church which was brightly decorated and not like our traditional christian churches. Before going into the church we had to take our shoes off. At the far end of the church there was a wall of remembrance with pictures of family members who had passed away.  There were comfy looking seats along the edge of the church and a copy of the treaty of  Waitangi  was displayed. After we had looked around the church we headed back home and packed up ready to get the ferry back into Auckland. I was sad to leave Waiheke and had a great time there, I hope that one day I'll go back.