Last week, our Rautaki Māori, Wharehuia Te Tokoihi, joined members of He Oranga Whānau Aotearoa Kāhui Māori in Te Tai Tokerau for its first wānanga of the year. Wharehuia shares his reflections on three days of learning, connection, and exploring the histories that continue to shape our work with whānau and communities.
I had the privilege of travelling to Whitiora (Te Tii) Marae in Te Kerikeri, Te Tai Tokerau, for the first He Oranga Whānau Aotearoa wānanga Kāhui Māori of the year, which consisted of three days of wānanga, learning, connection, and reflection.
It was an opportunity to reconnect with each other, deepen our thinking, and explore how mātauranga Māori can continue to shape and strengthen the work we do alongside whānau and communities.
Our first day began with kōrero from Matua Kipa Munro, a rangatira of Ngāti Rēhia and ahi kā of Whitiora marae. He shared the rich history of the area and the significance of Whitiora Marae. His stories reminded us that understanding the history of a place helps us better understand our own place within it. Later on that afternoon, we took part in a workshop around the role and identity of a Rautaki Māori, which was facilitated by Darrio Penetito-Hemara, who is the kai whakahaere matua of Toi Tangata and was one of the first Rautaki Māori of He Oranga Whānau Aotearoa.
The following day took us to Tau Rangatira in Paihia, where Tohe Ashby shared kōrero about the important discussions and deliberations among rangatira in the lead-up to He Whakaputanga and later Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Standing in a place where our tūpuna once gathered to discuss the future of our people brought a deeper meaning to the conversations we were having as a kāhui.
We later visited the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where Takoha Ropati guided us through the history of the site. Being there reminded me that meaningful change has always required courageous conversations, strong relationships, and collective leadership. Those same qualities continue to underpin the work we do today. The workshops that followed, facilitated by Rangimārie Mules and Mike Tipene, challenged us to think about how mātauranga Māori can guide a shared vision for change and strengthen our collective impact across Aotearoa.
On our final day, Takoha took us to Rangihoua Pā, where he shared stories of both pre-tauiwi and post-tauiwi history. We learned about the significance of the site and its place in the history of Aotearoa as the location where Ruatara and his people developed thriving agricultural enterprises that supplied visiting ships and Port Jackson (Sydney), and where Ruatara later supported Samuel Marsden in establishing the first Karaitiana mission and delivering the first Karaitiana sermon in Aotearoa in 1814.
Before heading home, we gathered one final time to share reflections and poroporoaki. Listening to everyone’s whakaaro, I was reminded that while the places we visited were powerful, it was the people, relationships, and shared commitment to whānau, cultural and taiao wellbeing that left the greatest impact.
I returned to Rotorua feeling grateful for the knowledge that was shared, the connections that were strengthened, and the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of our ancestors. Often the best learning happens not in a boardroom, but on the whenua, where history, people, and purpose have always come together.
He Oranga Whānau Te Tai Tokerau, otirā koutou ngā ringa hāpai o te wānanga, ko koutou katoa kai Tawhiti.
Nāku iti nei nā,
Wharehuia Te Tokoihi
Te Arawa, Tainui, Ngā-toki-mata-whao-rua
