KŌRERO Ō MUA
By Tim Lucas | Posted: Thursday August 6, 2020
ST MARY'S SCHOOL MOSGIEL VISIT
On Monday, Kavanagh College visited St Mary's Mosgiel and spent the morning reading and telling Māori stories.
From the school grounds you can see a living taniwha. Makomako (Signal Hill) was a creature of the water who had a very important job. He was a kaitiaki or guardian of the Upper Otago Harbour and body guard of rangatira (chief) Karetai. One sunny afternoon, he fell asleep and should have accompanied the chief on an important mission to Tokomairiro (Milton). The chief departed and when Makomako woke up some time later, the anxious taniwha swam up the harbour at great haste and found the Ōwheo (Water of Leith) and followed this watercourse to it's source with the hope of being able to see his master from Whakaari (Flagstaff). The creature did not spot the chief instead collapsing in exhaustion to where it now resides.
A big mihi (thank you) to principal Mr Mike Brosnahan, Mrs Virginia O'Neil, staff and respectful students for making us feel so welcome.
