Ikaroa Hui : The marae sleepover

There were about 14 of us that took up the offer of the sleepover at the marae to get the full experience of the mare visit and hui weekend. Sheeanda led with some korero on marae Tikanga and the background to marae protocol. She explained how we were now whanau (family).
Sheannda explained that sleeping together in one building – the wharenui or meeting house may be a new experience for some so please remember the key rules of politeness:


- Respect each other at all times
- Shoes are to be removed upon entering the wharenui and placed neatly on the veranda or taken beside your baggage.
- Please do not step over others.
- Use space wisely, you are allowed to share a mattress.
- Normally the tangata whenua occupy the left hand side of the meeting house while the manuhiri occupy the right side, this also applies to sleeping arrangements. (but as it isonly us sleeping over we can spread out)
- Try to avoid standing on mattresses or sitting on pillows.
- Tidy mattresses and bedclothes before going to breakfast. It is offensive if you enter the wharekai in your pyjamas.
- Keep clothes in bags, suitcases or neatly folded on top. Please do not hang thinga from carvings or pictures. Special hangers may be provided.
- The majority of Marae prohibit food and drink to be taken into the wharenui including the surrounding area, i.e. courtyard.

Sheannda that there was a reason for the earplugs that were handed out too. No guesses on that.
As I was the only male in the wharenui with 13 female colleagues I was a little anxious how it would go.
But as said Sheannda we are family and my colleagues soon put me at ease. We had a ball.