Page 38 - NHS Beyond the Classroom
P. 38
Kapa Haka Singapore Trip 1994
The suggestion of Fernleaf Centre in
taking a small Kapa Sembawang. The first
Haka group to thing to hit us was the
Singapore was first put heat, even before we
forward by the Head of got out of the terminal!
our Technical Depart- Everyone was very
ment Chris Jarnet who, pleased to see the large
this year, is the swimming pool at the
President of the New Fernleaf Centre, and
Zealand Jaycees. after being allocated
After a lot of soul- our rooms we met Mr
searching the issue was Tony Au, the Manager,
taken to parents of the who gave a quick
invited students and the outline of the do’s and
green light was given don’ts of the Centre.
for us to go ahead. The We then had free time
cost of the trip was limited to $745.00 per student until 6pm and dinner together.
for air fare and accommodation. The responsibility Everyone changed, had a swim together, and
for spending money was left up to each individual many of us met Shane Morris and Tony Andrews,
family. The staff undertook to raise the balance to friends of Darrell who are now living in Singapore.
cover insurance, transportation, most meals and After dinner most of the group travelled into North
any further additional expenses. Point, the nearest large shopping centre. Two
The Turangawaewae Marae Committee members of the group left a bit later, got off at the
nominated Mr John Haunui as the kaumatua to wrong bus stop and ended up in Chong Pang City.
travel with this group along with Pita Ngaru (an ex- On the way back they got off again at the
student) to join up with Staff-members Darrell wrong bus stop and ended up walking for what
Waiti, Rongo Atkins and Principal Tony seemed like miles, but finally everyone made it
Cranshaw. back safe and sound to the Fernleaf Centre.
The members of the group were: Aroha Wednesday 25th May
Rawiri, Rupuha Tupaea, Amelia Gray, Taame Most of us woke up fairly early and some
Tupaea, Ringa Simeon, Tukua Matthews, Tina Te were swimming in the pool by 6:30am. We all had
Koi, Puturangi Poutapu, Hinemoa Gray, Barney breakfast together at 8:30am, and Darrell’s friends
Wharakura, Le Ora Blake, Wiremu Tapara, Ata Shane and Karen came and agreed to guide us to
Tupaea, Taane Te Koi, Louise Eketone and Tahi o the High Commission. This was our first venture
Hurae Rangiawha. In total a group of 21. out in the military mini-vans - thank goodness they
Major sponsorships were gained from Air were air-conditioned.
New Zealand, Te Puni Kokiri and the Lions There were no problems getting into the High
Foundation. The rest was made up by way of a Commission and we were allowed to park the vans
raffle organised through the Sheraton Hotel and there while most of the party headed off down
other smaller donations. Orchard Road, the main shopping district, to
Tuesday 24th May explore some of the shops and plazas. Darrell,
We all met up at Turangawaewae at 5am. Shane, Karen and Tony Cranshaw stayed back in
There was a feeling of excitement which had been the foyer of the High Commission and tried to
building up over the previous two to three weeks. work out a possible itinerary for the remainder of
Everyone looked half-asleep, including the parents the trip.
who had come to farewell the group. We all met up again at the High Commission
Many of the students were huddled up in at 4:00pm, got changed and prepared for our first
scarves, blankets, heavy parkas and hats (these performance. There was a last-minute panic when
people were going to Singapore???). After a one of the boys from the group discovered he had
karakia by John we left for the Auckland forgotten his black skants, so there was a frantic
International Airport and by 8:00pm we were rush down town to buy some more. By 6:15pm the
through and on to the plane. We had a good 10- group was ready.
hour trip on Air New Zealand flight NZ73. We had The crowd was very appreciative of the
good meals and most of us managed to get a little performance although the group itself felt that they
bit of sleep before arriving in Singapore. didn’t deserve to be complimented for making so
There we were met by Lt Phillip Simpson many mistakes! Staff at the High Commission were
from the NZ Defence Force along with two vans great. They fed us and had plenty of drink -
and a truck for our transportation to the NZ perhaps too much for some. It was great to see the
