Last month, as the crisp winter air settled over Aotearoa, we came together to acknowledge a deeply significant time in Te Ao Māori — the rising of Matariki, our Māori New Year. Matariki was more than just a celestial event; it was a time of connection, remembrance, and renewal across our whānau and hapori.

The History of Matariki

Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars known globally as the Pleiades. Traditionally, its rising in the mid-winter sky marked the beginning of the new year in the Māori lunar calendar. For generations, iwi across the motu have looked to Matariki as a signal to pause — to honour those who had passed, to give thanks for the kai harvested, and to prepare for the year ahead.

Each iwi holds their own pūrākau and traditions around Matariki. For some, the cluster represented a mother and her six daughters. Others recognised nine stars, each representing an element of life — from food and water to health and well-being.

The Meaning of Matariki

In Te Ao Māori, time is viewed as cyclical rather than linear. Matariki reflected this beautifully — a time to look back in remembrance and forward with intention. It reminded us to celebrate the present, mourn those we had lost, and plant seeds of hope and purpose for the year ahead.

With Matariki now officially recognised as a public holiday, more people across the motu took the opportunity to reflect and reconnect with mātauranga Māori, te taiao, and one another. For us at Te Hono o Ngā Waka and many others across Te Tai o Poutini, this was a powerful time to centre our values of whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, and kotahitanga.

Celebrating Matariki in Our Community

This year, our Matariki celebrations brought whānau together in beautiful and meaningful ways. We shared kai, lit candles in remembrance, told stories, sang waiata, and took time to be present with each other. Tamariki and rangatahi engaged in learning about whakapapa, māramatanga, and the importance of reflecting on the year that had been.

These moments reminded us of the strength of our community and the beauty of our culture. Whether through wānanga, crafts, shared meals or quiet reflection, every action was an act of reconnection — to each other, to the land, and to our tūpuna.

Looking Ahead

As the Matariki stars rose and now begin to fade again from view, they left behind a trail of warmth and clarity. We honoured those we lost, gave thanks for the gifts we hold, and made space for new beginnings. Matariki was a gentle yet powerful reminder that healing, growth, and transformation all begin with reflection.

Though the official celebrations may have passed, the kaupapa of Matariki continues in our daily lives — in the way we show up for each other, the way we care for our environment, and the way we carry our whakapapa forward with pride.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou i hono mai, i whakanuia hoki i tēnei wā hirahira. Kia tau ngā manaakitanga o te tau hou Māori ki runga i a koutou katoa.

It’s that time of the year again—Te Hono o Ngā Waka is proud to be sending out our Winter Boxes to whānau across Te Tai o Poutini.

As the colder months settle in, we know just how important it is to keep our homes warm and our hearts full. These Winter Boxes are more than just seasonal supplies—they’re a reminder that no one stands alone. Each box has been thoughtfully packed with warmth, care, and aroha to support our whānau through the chill of takurua.

From essential winter items to comfort treats, our goal is to ease some of the pressure many face during this time of year. We’ve seen firsthand how impactful a small gesture can be—especially for those who are isolated, vulnerable, or facing tough times.

We also want to remind whānau that if your whare is cold, damp, or in need of support, we can help. If you would like a Healthy Homes Assessment, please get in touch with us. We can walk alongside you to find practical solutions to make your home warmer, drier, and healthier for you and your tamariki.

A huge mihi to our team, volunteers, and supporters who make this kaupapa possible. Your mahi ensures these boxes get to the right hands at the right time, lifting spirits and bringing practical relief to the homes of our whānau.

He iti te koha, nā te ngākau nui—
A small gift, from a big heart.

As part of our ongoing commitment to re-indigenise ourselves and our mahi across Te Tai o Poutini, the Te Hono o Ngā Waka team spent a powerful day immersed in our local history, whenua, and stories.

We began our journey in Māwhera, where we explored both Pounamu Pathways exhibits. These taonga-rich spaces offered us the opportunity to deepen our understanding of the pounamu stories of our rohe—reminding us of the enduring significance of our connection to whenua and wai. The kōrero shared throughout the day grounded us further in our whakapapa and the stories of those who came before us.

From there, we continued to Punakaiki to visit the beautifully designed Punaeani Visitors Centre. This space not only showcases the natural beauty of the area but holds the purākau and mātauranga that remind us of the richness of our cultural heritage. It was a moment of both reflection and inspiration, reinforcing our purpose and reminding us of the depth beneath our mahi.

Of course, no hīkoi is complete without kai—and we were treated to some incredibly delicious pies, including unique and tasty flavours like hāngī and watercress!

These experiences are vital to our growth as a team. They help us realign with our kaupapa, with each other, and with the people and places we serve. As we continue our journey of cultural reclamation and restoration, days like these are not just refreshing—they are necessary.

We are absolutely loving the opportunity to work alongside and support our kaumātua — connecting, sharing stories, and enjoying outings and activities together. Their energy, wisdom, and warmth bring so much joy. We feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have them as part of our lives. 💛

We finally did it – we brought back our Wāhine Mau Rākau Wānanga! It's been a long time since our last one, and for many reasons—mostly due to limited capacity and capability in this treasured taonga—we haven’t been able to host one until now.

Since our earlier wānanga a few years ago, our beautiful Maia took a year out to upskill and gain experience in mahi, during this time, she also welcomed a precious pēpi into the world—ngā mihi aroha, Maia!

We are also excited to welcome Amo into the kaupapa, joining Maia to deliver the wānanga as a team. It’s a real blessing to have them both leading this space with strength, humility, and heart.

This recent wānanga was a one-day event to ease back in, and we’re hoping to run a full two-day wānanga later this year. It’s a clear reminder of how vital yet fragile our capacity is in this space—and just how important it is to prioritise and nurture it.

Mau Rākau is a taonga that belongs in our community. It holds healing, discipline, connection, and cultural reclamation. We’re committed to making sure that this kaupapa continues to grow and be available for our whānau.

He taonga tuku iho – let’s protect and uplift it, together.

At Te Hono o Ngā Waka, we’re proud to be part of a powerful and transformative partnership with ACFB – A Change for Better. Together, we’ve been on a journey to shine a light on neurodiversity within our whānau and create real change that supports understanding, healing, and empowerment.

To date, we’ve supported over 30 whānau—rangatahi, pakeke, and tamariki—through neurodiversity screening. For many, this has been a life-changing experience. Some have walked away in shock, finally making sense of challenges they’ve faced for years. Others have felt deep relief, understanding that what they once saw as failure was actually unmet needs. And for some, it's sparked a new excitement about what their future, and the future of their tamariki, might now look like.

What we’ve come to know through this kaupapa is both confronting and clarifying: when neurodiversity goes unrecognised and unsupported, the risks are significant. We see links to drug and alcohol misuse, incarceration, exclusion from education, and a sense of disconnection from identity and belonging. The average life expectancy for a neurodiverse person is just 54 years old. They are nine times more likely to die by suicide, often from the cumulative effects of being misunderstood, unsupported, and excluded.

And yet, despite these realities, our current systems are still not built to support neurodiverse whānau in meaningful, early, and culturally safe ways. Far too often, tamariki are labelled as “naughty” or “too hard” rather than being seen for who they truly are—intelligent, capable, and worthy of love and support.

This is why our mahi with ACFB matters. It’s about more than assessments—it’s about advocacy, awhi, and rewriting the narrative. We want our whānau to understand their own wiring and gifts, to access the tools and supports they need to thrive, and to know that they are not broken—they are different, and that difference is valuable.

As we continue this journey, we remain committed to pushing for systemic change. We want to see more equitable access to screening, culturally grounded pathways to support, and a future where our neurodiverse whānau are celebrated—not sidelined.

Because when we know better, we can do better. And when whānau are seen, understood, and supported, the ripple effects go far beyond the individual—they change generations.

Let me know if you want to include any quotes, photos, or upcoming events tied to this mahi, and I can help you integrate that too.

It is with heavy hearts that we share that Mokopuna Ora will come to an end this June. Even more devastating is the closure of Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu, the commissioning agency that backed this kaupapa from the beginning.

This is not just the end of a contract — it’s the loss of a powerful, whānau-led movement that supported our māmā and pēpi in ways that truly honoured who we are. Mokopuna Ora wasn’t just a programme; it was a living expression of our tūpuna values, our mātauranga, and our hopes for intergenerational wellbeing.

At Te Hono o Ngā Waka, this kaupapa has been part of our wairua. First led by myself, then by Nikita, and most recently by Te Aroha, we have supported hundreds of whānau through our Tūpuna Parenting and Building Awesome Whānau programmes. Together we created space for our māmā and tāne to reconnect, reflect and realise that parenting with aroha, strength and tikanga is not only possible — it’s part of our whakapapa.

It’s incredibly disheartening to witness the widespread cuts under the current National Government. So many kaupapa that were working, that were grounded in whānau leadership and cultural identity, have been taken away. These weren’t handouts — they were systems of restoration, healing, and empowerment.

We will continue to do this mahi in whatever way we can. Whether it looks the same or takes a new shape, Mokopuna Ora lives on through us. The knowledge, the mātauranga, and the science of the first 30 days of life — the vital window that sets the foundation for everything to come — is something we can no longer unlearn.
"Do what you can with what you know, and when you know better — do better."

E kore e mimiti te puna aroha.
Ka whati te tī, ka wana te tī — the kaupapa continues.

After 10 long years of dreaming, planning, and preparing—we are beyond proud to celebrate our whānau who have successfully completed their kōhanga reo training and graduated this weekend! Their dedication marks a huge step forward in our journey to re-establish our very own kōhanga. This achievement is more than just a milestone—it's a symbol of our commitment to re-indigenizing our community and embedding te reo Māori into the hearts of our whānau and tamariki for generations to come. More whānau are set to begin their kōhanga training next year, ensuring our kaupapa continues to grow stronger. E kore e mutu ngā mihi—this is only the beginning!

We were privileged to welcome Elen Nathan back to Te Tai o Poutini for another powerful session titled “Is it Sensory or is it Behaviour?”—and what an incredible wānanga it was!

With an awesome turnout of 34 people, the session was full of insight, laughter, reflection, learning, and powerful kōrero. Elen guided us through the deep connections between our sensory systems and our behaviours, reminding us of one key message that resonated with everyone: “We don’t choose our behaviour—our sensory system does.”

Elen Nathan is a New Zealand–registered occupational therapist and certified sensory integration practitioner with over 20 years of experience supporting children and adults with diverse needs. Her areas of expertise include neurodiversity, autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing differences, dyspraxia, and communication-of-need behaviours.

She is the founder and director of The Playful Place, a neurodiverse-affirming occupational therapy practice in Aotearoa. Elen has worked with leading organisations including Autism New Zealand, the National Autistic Society (UK), and Autism Victoria (AUS), and is also a trained facilitator in LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®. As a mother to two boys with different sensory profiles, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work.

Throughout the session, we explored three essential lenses that must guide our mahi:

1. Trauma-informed

2. Culturally safe

3. Neurodiverse inclusive

We also gained a deeper understanding of the difference between predictable and unpredictable stress, and how this impacts the way we support and build resilience in our whānau. Elen reminded us that our goal is not equality, but equity—ensuring everyone receives what they need to thrive.

Some of the most beautiful and simple reminders from the day included:

• Be open, curious, empathetic, and kind.

• Smile with your eyes.

• Everyone is care-seeking.

• And if Batman hits Robin, Batman needs our support.

Thank you to Elen for holding this space with such aroha, clarity, and mana. The ripple effect of this session will be felt throughout our homes, kura, and community for a long time to come.

Over the weekend, our whānau gathered for a special retreat at the beautiful Lake Kaniere—a weekend filled with connection, kōrero, and kotahitanga. We came together as tamariki, rangatahi, wāhine, and tāne, to slow down, share space, and strengthen our bonds through whakawhanaungatanga.

From the moment we arrived, the energy was peaceful but powerful. Surrounded by ngahere and the stillness of the lake, we knew we were in the right place to wānanga, reflect, and reconnect—not just with each other, but with ourselves and the natural world.

One of the highlights was dipping into the icy cold waters of Lake Kaniere—an invigorating and healing experience for many of us. It reminded us of the strength and clarity that comes from embracing discomfort and returning to the elements. Tamariki played freely, exploring the bush and learning through nature, while the adults had time to walk, kōrero, and breathe.

We shared kai, stories, laughter, and taonga pūoro—beautiful sounds of our tīpuna echoing through the trees, grounding us in the moment and in our whakapapa. For many, this weekend was a rare chance to pause and fill our cups—emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

The retreat reminded us of the beauty in simplicity: good people, nourishing kai, nature, and time together. These moments are taonga. We returned home feeling lighter, stronger, and more connected—ready to carry the wairua of the weekend forward.

Winter is coming—and at Te Hono o Ngā Waka, we’re here to help our whānau stay warm, dry, and well this season. This morning, we kicked off the first of three Healthy Homes Initiative information sessions at the Hokitika Library, led by the incredible Mikayla Tumahai.

It was a great turnout, with whānau popping in for a cuppa and kōrero about what support is available to help get their homes winter-ready. Mikayla shared valuable information about insulation, heating, ventilation, and other practical ways to improve home health—especially for those living in older or colder whare.

This kaupapa is all about keeping our tamariki and whānau safe and well during the colder months, and ensuring that no one slips through the cracks when it comes to housing support.

If you missed today’s session, don’t worry—Mikayla will be back at the Hokitika Library for two more drop-in sessions on:

• Wednesday 29 May

• Wednesday 26 June
  ⏰ 10am – 12pm

These sessions are open to everyone—come along, have a chat, and find out what support might be available for you or your whānau. Nau mai, haere mai!

What a journey it has been! For the first time, Te Tai o Poutini made it to the Waka Ama Long Distance Nationals — and we took two teams of rangatahi who absolutely gave it everything. All the hard work, the training, the commitment… it all paid off. We did it!

With over 1,000 paddlers from 59 clubs racing over three massive days in Wellington, the energy and atmosphere were unreal. I feel so privileged and proud to have been a part of it all.

On Day 1, our open women’s crew paddled the 8–10km race, finishing an impressive 4th place — that was just our warm-up! Day 2 brought the big one: the 25km Open Mixed Race, and I was honoured to paddle in that race alongside some of the most determined and dedicated people I know. What an amazing effort from our crew.

As I look back, I can’t help but think — how did we get here? Just a year ago we were entering our very first Waka Ama race in Dunedin. Then Te Anau, Kaiteriteri for Waka Te Tasman… and now Nationals in Wellington. It still feels surreal. To go from our humble beginnings to having four teams and 24 paddlers racing against the best in the country, representing our new club Tākina, is something we’ll never forget. What a proud moment for all of us.

To my incredible rangatahi — I couldn’t be prouder of you all. You gave it everything, and your results speak for themselves. You are the reason I do this. I will always carry this waka ama journey in my heart, because of you.

Next up — Ice Breaker Challenge in Dunedin in three weeks! Let’s go!

Lastly, a massive thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey — to those who messaged, who flew up to tautoko us, who helped with tamariki, who gave their time and energy to make this kaupapa happen we couldn’t have done this without you. From the bottom of my heart — ngā mihi nui.

– Hayley