Hall Blessing

As the alarm went off at 5.00am in the morning, I was not sure I had even been asleep. I lay there for a few moments, and realised how dangerous this was, as the potential to accidentally fall back to sleep was more than likely. I bolted from the warmth of the duvet.

While I was dealing with getting myself out of bed, around Balmoral, hundreds of other people were doing the same thing. However I think there were a few parents who had to manage waking up some very groggy, tired children.

We stood in the court yard outside the auditorium. Dark clouds rolled overhead, but did not seem to be threatening rain (as promised by numerous meteorologists). A hushed murmur ran through the crowd. It is funny how a place like a school which is full of voices and people during the day, can take on such a different feel at 5.30 in the morning.

The kaumatua greeted us all , quickly followed by the call of the Karanga. "Haere mai, haere mai". Dayna stood calling to us to come, embraced by her family korowai, and the knowledge of her ancestors encouraging her on.

Whaea Tina led Tariel and Patricia through the building, following closely behind our kaumatuas, blessing this new building, and filling it with the warmth of people. We walked in their footsteps, running our hands over the walls of the building. We would now forever be a part of this building.

It is now our job to make this building more than a collection of walls and beams, we need to give this building heart.

For those of you who came to the blessing, I want to know how you felt about the ceremony, and the building.