Here’s to our Papa!

The Aroora kaupapa continues to explore new ways (or old, depending on your reference) of engaging with Atua Māori and te taiao in the pursuit of strengthening and sustaining oranga.

Recently, the team purchased a quiver of Papa Pae (bodyboards) from Cork Bodyboards https://www.facebook.com/corkbodyboards/  to allow people to engage in the traditional practice of whakaheke ngaru or surfing.

In this context, Papa Pae comes from the generic Moana-nui-a-Kiwa term Papa, for a flat board, and pae, to perch on, with pae whenua being to head shoreward.

The design was taken from the traditional Hawaiian bodyboard, the Papa li’ili’i, or more commonly referred to as the Pae Po’o or Paipo, and has the additional benefit of sustainable and environmentally friendly materials and production.

The team also has a fleet of Kōpapa, or Stand Up Paddeboards, from Moana SUP https://www.moananzsup.co.nz/ , which they use to help people access inland water ways and, on occasion, surf. The kupu Kōpapa in this day and age is more commonly connected to a small dugout river canoe, however, it was also a generic term for a large surf board, again with the papa reference mentioned before.

Keep an eye on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Arooranz/ to see regular updates as rangatahi and pakeke alike reconnect to these traditional practices.