Page 32 - NHS Beyond the Classroom

Raiatea Culture Group Tour 1992

As the 10th of December 1992 quickly drew 3am. Once everyone had been through customs and
near, excitement was in the hearts and minds of the luggage had been collected, the group waited
entire 48-strong group intending to visit Tahiti. The patiently for transport to our accommodation.
year had been a busy one - filling with regular However, due to a slight misunderstanding in our
group meetings, tiring fundraising commitments travel arrangements, it was decided that the boys
and intense kapa haka practices. would stay at the originally booked Inn in town,
Finally the eagerly-awaited day arrived and whilst the girls were given alternative
the Raiatea trippers and supporters assembled at accommodation in a backpackers lodge near the
the High School: the students immaculately turned beach and smaller villages of Papete.
out in their new green and white uniforms; the staff Everyone rested during the short hours of the
and kaumatua smartly dressed in travelling attire; night and, around midday, the group was re-united
the whanau and friends once again showering the at the Papete wharf. Here we caught the first
group with their aroha and well-wishes. sighting of what was to be our worst nightmare.....
After a brief poroporoaki and karakia at the The “Taporo IV” has been described by some
marae we boarded the “ever faithful” Simpson bus as “the refugee boat” or “the cargo ship”, and has
and began the first leg of our journey to the been the butt of many a joke. In fact it is virtually
Auckland International Airport. impossible to describe unless you yourself have
Our flight to Papete was an enjoyable experienced a lengthy nine hour cruise aboard the
experience. The group - which consisted of many Toporo.
who had not flown before - was watched with From one end of the ship to the other there
much amusement by fellow passengers as more were masses of people, and at every port they kept
cheered enthusiastically when the plane lifted off. on coming! You could smell the toilets practically
A game of “musical chairs” soon followed from the opposite side of the ship and the odd
until a seating arrangement suited to everyone was storm or two didn’t help make the trip any more
found. comfortable.
After a long flight we left the airconditioned Needless to say the group disembarked on
confines of the plane and were instantly greeted by Tahaa Island dishevelled, hungry, tired and totally
a huge blast of heat - even though it was about relieved to be on dry land again.