RUAPARA TURANGAWAEWAE
ABOUT US.
We extend to our guests the only holiday experience we believe which
encompasses a full and complete Maori cultural, spiritual and historical
holiday in the Marlborough Sounds New Zealand.
Share with us the unique atmosphere and environment of NEW ZEALAND historical
significance, sit and enjoy the legends of 'TE AO MAORI' The Maori
World and listen to the tales of the coming of both the white man
and the Maori to the shores of 'AOTEAROA'.
Join with us in the celebration of the occasion, being the pleasure
of having you with us, giving us the opportunity to extend our 'manakitanga',
our hospitality to you. Enjoy the onsite manufacture of various forms
of greenstone, 'pounama' and other forms of stone into products such
as implements, pendants etc. along with other craft products This
includes flax kites, poi poi - even try your hand at making your own
craft work to take away with you.
View the ancient evidence of past civilisation and occupation generations,
pre-european implements, occupation sites and listen to verbally handed
down historical oratory and genealogy 'whakapapa'.
Enjoy the fishing experience and also the seafood gathering of scallops,
mussels, paua etc in close proximity to the homestay whare - even
gather freshwater crayfish known as 'koura' for yourself to barbecue
on the Whare deck.
Perhaps you may just take a stroll around the shoreline...hike to the
hilltops and take in the magnificent views of the TASMAN SEA, COOK STRAIT
and the vast PACIFIC OCEAN.
We have considerable native wild birdlife in and around the property
including pukeko,weka, red breasted swallows, wild pigeons, coloured
and white pheasants and we await the return of the swallows from their
annual migration to Siberia.
We currently have a native forest replanting programme underway on the
property to assist and create a further safe haven for the native
bird life. You may if you desire, plant a native tree for this programme,
plant out, label it and it will remain in perpetuity as a memorial
to you and your visit and stay with us. Possibly for your family to
visit and see in the future.
Your hosts are the descendants of the MAORI peoples who arrived in 'Aotearoa'
on the canoe or 'waka' TOKOMARU' during the 13th century and are members
of the TE ATIAWA tribe of Northern Taranaki, having travelled to settle
on ARAPAWA ISLAND in the Queen Charlotte Sounds during the early 1800
period.
Come and stay with us in our ANCESTRAL HERITAGE HOME and enjoy the unique
holiday experience we offer you.
We welcome you..................
CATERING.
Meals are served in the home dining room and when so desired on the
deck when barbeque outside dining is available. Also the barbeque is
available to guests who may desire to cook the fish and seafood catches
at their leisure. Likewise when meal is cooked MAORI Hangi style it also
can be served on the deck. We like to give our guests a HANGI meal experience
particularly when we have wild game such as wild pig to offer.
Should guests desire to undertake hill top hiking experience food and
drink will be supplied.
Sample Menu.
Breakfast: Continental or Cooked Breakfast by arrangement.
Morning Tea: Scones or Muffins.
Lunch: Quiche. Bacon and Egg Pie. Cold meat and Salad.
Afternoon Tea: Cake and Biscuits.
Dinner: Roast Lamb B.B.Q Seafood if available. Corned Beef.
Dessert: Apple Pie or Apple Crumble. Cheese Cake. Apricot Surprise.
Pavlova.
These will all be cooked and created by Gay.
Fresh Veg and Fruit as available at the time of the year.
Prior to Dinner: Wine or Beer and some nibbles.
LAUNDRY.
Guests laundry can be processed by the home personnel should guests
so wish during their stay.
NEWSPAPERS.
We do not have a paper delivery service however we do have satellite
television and the new of the outside world can be viewed, if one so
wished we also have satellite E-Mail internet, so you can use this to
keep in touch with family and friends at home.
TELEPHONE.
We have a telephone and fax available with the home and can be used
by guests with toll calls charged to the user.
ENVIROMENTAL RESPONSIVNESS.
The home uses an onsite septic tank for processing all waste water and
as such uses natural based products in preference to chemically based
cleaners etc to avoid the release and aggregation of hard to breakdown
residues in the environment. Guests assistance in assisting with this
would be appreciated.
MEDICAL SERVICES.
The home has a full medical kit and has available 111 service in the
case of an accident or illness requiring urgent transport either to
a doctor in Picton or the hospital located in Blenheim, guests whom
perhaps are using medications should ensure that they have what they
require whilst they are here on the Island.
HAEREMAI. NAUMAI. HAEREMAI KOUTOU. KIA ORA KOUTOU KATOA.
