Yummy food, exotic artworks, Māori harmonies and a heartwarming welcome . . . Somehow Friday’s marae visit came together to form unforgettable memories for 45 senior high school students from China.

The day began with the group from Xjianghi being welcomed onto Kutarere Marae, the only rural marae-based visit scheduled for their New Zealand trip.

Behind the scenes volunteers had worked tirelessly to restore the marae to spotless perfection, water blasters having washed away all trace of silt from recent flooding. That event saw the marae host 70 stranded motorists overnight and feed many more.

“With important guests on the way there was little space for reflection,” spokeswoman Victor Hape said.

“We, their first cultural contact as Māori hosts, felt very privileged on behalf of our wharua, our rohe of Mataatua and Aotearoa.

“We sang traditional songs to welcome them – songs which speak about us as a people, our area, our land, our sea...

“When they sang back to us it was, “Ald Langs Ayne in Chinese, showing that just like us they can make use of a good tune when they hear it.

“Through a translator we explained and gave the stories of our (exterior) carvings and kowhaiwhai panels and what these represent for us.

“We had a quick church service in the whare and carried on the explanations of the carvings on our meeting house... how they represent our ancestors.

“They were quite interested. Our school children played a big part too – it wasn’t all just adults involved because the young people interacted and exchanged gifts.

“When it came time to eat it was a real eye-opener. I thought our people loved seafood, but nothing like our visitors.

“We were told they have a lot of sea- food back home, but not in the raw state as we like to eat it here on our marae.

“The movement of forks to mouths was just constant. We laid on dishes comprising everything our seacoast and rivers can provide, plus some of our fermented foods like kānga pirau (rotten corn).

“They asked, ‘what is this’, and they were just devouring it.

“We’d wanted them to experience some of our traditional foods – eels and all that, and this proved to be a winner. Ours was the first stop on their New Zealand itinerary where they weren’t served Chinese food.”

Not only Mr Hape, but all the hosts were astonished at how their Chinese guests took to Māori kai.

“Their leader stood up in the whare kai to thank everyone and then the first thing he did after that was pick up his fork to carry on eating. They had all already been eating for about 20-25 minutes before he’d got up to talk.”

The group eventually departed the marae for sightseeing, which included the Waiotahe Solar Farm, Whakatōhea Mussels and Ōpōtiki College.

“About 5pm they returned, and the marae again fed them; this time with traditional fish and chips – eaten as finger food.

“That went down well too. They were unsure where to wipe their hands following the meal but there were plenty of big smiles, so they must have found it tasty. After that it was back to Whakatāne to process a day they’ll likely not forget.”

Meanwhile, Ōpōtiki District Council experience and engagement manager Joseph Hayes said the arrival of the Chinese students in town proved a lightbulb moment for many.

“You could see first-hand the benefits of cultural exchange and just how powerful these relationships can be. Connecting with Jiangxi – a province of more than 45 million people – shows our communities the scale of what’s possible when we open our doors and share experiences,” Mr Hayes added.

“The level of openness and genuine willingness of people, both local and visiting, to connect was astonishing. That human connection will stay with me.

“For our young people, opportunities like this are priceless and rare. They broaden horizons, build confidence, and create friendships across cultures. The Jiangxi relationship is not just symbolic – it’s a real and practical tool for growth, learning, and opportunity.”

He said back in 2019, the Eastern Bay councils worked together with Simon Appleton of Eastern Bridge to form the Jiangxi relationship. While ODC was no longer an official partner, the impact had been huge for the community.

“Last year, seven young people from Ōpōtiki spent three months in Jiangxi (fully funded) on what they describe as a life-changing experience, and another 22 volunteers are preparing to embark this year.

“Future trips are planned for 2026, and that speaks volumes about the value of the relationship. Looking ahead, there’s hope that the council will come back onboard and that local iwi, Whakatōhea, will also become partners.”

Did the contact with Jiangxi highlight future opportunities to study the Chinese language?

“Yes, absolutely – but it’s much bigger than just language. It opens doors to cultural exchange, life-changing experiences, deeper understanding, enduring friendships, economic opportunities, and the sharing of stories and knowledge between our peoples.

“Ōpōtiki has always been a community that looks outward as well as inward. These relationships are about building bridges that will benefit not only today’s young people but future generations too. The visit was a reminder of how much we gain when we are willing to learn from others and share who we are in return. The possibilities are endless,” Mr Hayes said.