Tēnei te mihi nui ki a koutou.
We finish the year will our hearts full from our hui in November in Opononi. Our time together at Te Whakarongotai Marae was a fantastic opportunity for 50 of our members to wānanga together. Ngā mihi nui to the organisers – Anahera, Francis, Manuhiri and Brad, it was a fabulous hui. A huge mihi to Brad and his whānau who were amazing hosts at the marae. The beautiful baking, kai, hakari – delicious (having koura and paraoa parai for breakfast – miharo!!) But it’s not all about the kai! We had a large number of new attendees, and we asked them to share their reflections. We look forward to growing these connections throughout the new year. Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa.
This was not only my first Hui-a-Tau but my first time in Northland, and it was such a meaningful, uplifting experience. I loved meeting everyone, and connecting kanohi ki te kanohi in a warm, welcoming environment full of wairua. Learning the local hītori, ngā kōrero tuku iho, was a real highlight, deepening my understanding of the relationships between the whenua, the people, and the stories that shape us. Throughout the hui-a-tau, my passion for te ao Māori grew stronger. Even though we come from different iwi and hapori, I felt te aho kotahi that connects us through our culture, our reo, and our whakapapa. I left feeling inspired, refreshed, and grateful to be part of this kaupapa. nā Hine Ngarewa
For me, Hui-a-Tau was about community and connection. As someone who has grown up quite disconnected from te ao Māori, having this opportunity to experience what it is to live and breathe as Māori with so many amazing people was incredibly valuable. Staying at the marae was especially meaningful as it was my first time, it was a formative and grounding experience that deepened my understanding, strengthened my sense of belonging, and reminded me of the importance of whakapapa and whanaungatanga. nā Ryan Taylor
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