Kia Ora Molweni - Series

Episode One
Kaiako, whānau, and friends share their hopes as senior students from five kura kaupapa Māori prepare to travel to South Africa: Te Niiwai Mutu (Te Wharekura o Te Rangi Āniwaniwa), Hoera Kereama (Te Wharekura o te Rau Aroha), Judas Mika and Juneea Silbery (Te Kura Kaupapa ā Rohe-ō-Māngere), Rea Wīpaki-Hawkins (Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mana Tamariki), and Shawn Thwaites (Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata). On arrival in East London, they are met with an emotional welcome from the Xhosa community of Mdantsane Township

Episode Two
The students meet their host families and visit Sakhisizwe School, arriving amid a nationwide teachers’ strike. Homesickness mixes with excitement as they settle into daily life. They reflect on the differences between Mdantsane and their own hometowns, explore the local market, and enjoy close encounters with elephants, lions, and warthogs at a nearby wildlife park.

Episode Three
The students join Afrikaans host families who, while equally welcoming, live very different lives from those in Mdantsane. They attend Grens High School in East London, where they learn Afrikaans phrases, cook local dishes, and discuss racism and inequality. A breakdown on the road delays their journey to rural Bulungula, where they later experience traditional women’s practices and community life.

Episode Four
Farewelling their Afrikaans hosts, the group meets their new Coloured host families — from South Africa’s mixed-heritage community. They visit John Bisseker School with their host brothers and sisters, sharing haka and kōrero. Two students connect with passionate All Blacks supporters at a local club, while Judas visits Duncan Village to interview ‘Big Mama’, learning firsthand about poverty. The group later visits a local orphanage to deliver gifts.

Episode Five
Back in Mdantsane, the students stay with new host families from Sandisiwe School, sharing waiata, gifts, and games. They return to Winter Rose to teach poi and play sports, before travelling to Ginsberg to visit the home of Steve Biko, founder of the Black Consciousness Movement. Their journey continues to Mthatha, where they learn about the legacy of Nelson Mandela.

Episode Six
Judas and Shawn teach the Winter Rose rugby team the haka, then join them on the field for a local tournament. The group farewells their host families and performs kapa haka at the Heritage Day Festival in Mdantsane. On their final night, the Winter Rose community gifts them Xhosa names — a heartfelt farewell to close their South African journey.