Day 25 (#2): Kohutapu Lodge on Lake Aniwhenua
Today we are going way off the beaten track and have been gifted with an overnight, local, current day cultural and community true Maori experience. Nadine & Karl Toe Toe, a local Maori family that purchased Kohutapu Lodge on Lake Aniwhenua, had a vision and desire is to improve their community’s impoverishment, and all the challenges associated with it including severe issues with drugs and gangs, through educational tourism. Five years ago they pitched their idea to Stray Travel, and with the help of their heartfelt partnership, many lives have been changed, most especially the children’s.
No one offers anything like this and no other company could understand Stray adding a stop in the small township named Murupara reputed to be dangerous. Even the bus drivers were dubious. It’s now the 2nd top rated Stray stop of both Islands. When we crossed into tribal land we were joined on the bus by Roks and she took us to see ancient Maori cave carvings from 1000 years ago.
Ancient Maori cave carvings
Murupara Street Art
Then we arrived at the small family lodge and was greeted by Nadine, a whirlwind of positive energy, who jumped on the bus and immediately welcomed and blessed us as family. We were treated with a traditional “hangi” which is cooked in the ground, layered in a way that keeps the veggies and meat separate. (Yay for me). Extra food is usually cooked and distributed to the school children by Strays International travelers the day after the hangi. Sadly we are here during school holiday so didn’t get to go to school. This partnership introduced the children to people outside their small, struggling community for the very first time. Lego (our driver) says at first the kids would hide under their desks, now they welcome the bus and travelers with open arms. Additionally, It use to be one of the worst performing schools in NZ and, in just 5 years, they’ve raised their standing to the middle of the pack.
As they say in Te Reo (Maori), “E pai ana” which means “sweet as” as in “sweet as pie” meaning “all good.”
