The homepage for School Camps@Kopinga Marae

Are your students tired of the same old school camp? Perhaps you are too?

In this new age of global freedom, schools are reaching out to the very corners of the globe in their attempts to educate students about our global community. Even within the 3000 plus schools in New Zealand, many now organise class, or school camps to overseas destinations. In the late 1990s, Australia was the country of choice and now students venture as far afield as Japan and Germany, with many schools tying the trip into the educational benefits of the acquisition of a second language. Others link their overseas school camps to the social studies curriculum and their studies of particular aspects of the global community, culture or history.

Whilst we agree that fostering an awareness of the global community, for our students, is an essential component of their education, we also believe that they need to be given the opportunity to learn a little more of the real history of their own country first. By that, we mean that we want the students of New Zealand to learn the truth about a number of significant events that have happened in New Zealand, to New Zealanders, over the past 200 years, some as recently as 70 years ago, and some, as long ago as when people first settled New Zealand. I refer, of course, to the history, culture and stories of Te Imi Moriori.

For generations, the Moriori people have been maligned, mis-represented, portrayed as inferior, and the victims of genocide, slavery and cultural slander. Myths have been developed and published about them, supported by significant publications, and even by the Government. The publication of the School Journal article about Moriori, that was sent to every school in the country, would have to rate as one of the worst of these abuses against a people that could not talk back.

Today, Te Imi Moriori number in the hundreds and have built a fantastic cultural centrepiece at Kopinga. Now, your students can learn the truth about these peaceful people, their marvellous myths, their legends and their stories, and the truth about what happened to them and how they have risen from the brink of extinction to resume their rightful place in the society of Rekohu (the Chatham Islands) and in New Zealand.

These people are the righful and traditional inhabitants of Rekohu and their story is inspiring. Students of all ages are fascinated by the stories of Te Imi Moriori.

School Camps

School Camps at Kopinga offer accommodation, full facilities, cultural presentations and access to numerous cultural sites about Moriori.

Dont be confused by thinking that Moriori are just another Maori tibe and that as a teacher, you have covered all you need or want to about tikanga Maori or Te reo.

Moriori are Moriori, not Maori. The language, whilst it shares some similarities is different and is not just another dialect of Maori. Tangata whenua, for example, is Tchakat Henu in Moriori re.

The tikanga of Te Imi Moriori is different. The legends of migration and discovery may share similar features with that of some mainland Maori groups, including some ancestors, but the difference is that the Moriori legends and stories all lead to Rekohu.

But culture and history are not the only reasons to have your next school camp at Kopinga Marae. Rekohu has so much to offer your students in terms of outdoors experiences and activities, that even without the unique cultural components, your students will get a huge boost out of their school camp on Rekohu. Check out the range of activities and attractions here>>>