Halfway Bush School and Kindergarten pupils (from left) Jacob Fraser (5), Isla Srey (obscured, 3), Harley Armishaw (3), Peyton Edgar (5), Joshua Norrish (3), Edward Craw (4), Madi Chappell (obscured, 3), Sativa Barclay Chapman (obscured, 3), Eva McPherson (3), and Hunter Deans (obscured, 3) salivate at the sight of food cooked in an umu (earth oven) at Halfway Bush School yesterday.
Principal Brian Filipo said pieces of wood were set alight to heat large stones before a variety of Pasifika food was placed on them and covered with wet sacks to steam it.
''The food was so good - just great.
''It was to celebrate Matariki, but we wanted to do it with a blend of Pasifika. That's why we made an umu rather than a hangi.
''We have a lot of Pasifika pupils at the school and there are a few at the Halfway Bush kindergarten too, so we invited them to come along as well.''
