"Night Watch at the Marae"
Reading Level: Week 6 – R-controlled Vowels

Paragraph 1
After dark, Aria and Hori arrived at the marae for night watch. The air was warm but the shore wind whirred over the whāriki. “The storm charts say the tide will turn early,” Aria warned. They carried torches and a large board covered in notes.

Paragraph 2
They heard the kuia snore softly in the corner as they started their patrol. Outside, the korimako birds stirred in the pōhutukawa trees. Hori wrote each sound in the log. “Our records will support the harbour reports,” he murmured.

Paragraph 3
A sharp crack startled them near the storage whare. Aria shone her torch and saw a broken oar. “This could injure our whānau if we ignore it,” she said. Working together, they stored the sharp shards in a barrel.

Paragraph 4
Before dawn the pair shared a warm brew in the wharekai. “Kia ora for your hard work,” their koroua smiled. “Your caring hearts guard the marae and prepare the hapori for tomorrow.”

Comprehension Prompts
1. What clues did Aria use to predict the tide change?
2. Which words include the r-controlled sounds ar, or, er, ir, ur?
3. How did Aria and Hori show care for their community?