Today we went to Matahiwi Marae for Kotahitanga week. When we got there a lady was signing to welcome us onto the marae with the karanga. We sat down and listened to Mr Mulligan speak. Afterwards we sung two songs and then went to have some kai (food). 
We got split up into three groups that rotated around. My first rotation was learning about the paintings on the walls of the Whare Kai. Whaea Edwards told us about her family and how she grew up near the marae. She also told us sbout the history of the paintings and what they meant.
Our next rotation was the Wharenui where there was a huge whale's jaw and carvings of people on the walls. Matua Unahi talked about the whale's jaw and how there were 50 teeth, the whale weighed 50 tons and it was 50 feet long. The statues were of Kahungunu amd his relations and the ceiling panels represent the local rivers.
The final rotation was in the marae atea with Mr Mulligan. He told us about Maui's family. He also told us about how the females aren't allowed to perform a speech unless they are on the verandah outside the Wharenui. After all of our rotations Mr Mulligan said a karakia before we left. My favourite part of our visit to the Marae was learning about the whale jaw.
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