Healthy Families Rotorua will bring people together this May for Rūrū Parirau – Rewriting Our Alcohol Story, a hui taumata calling communities to reclaim the narrative around alcohol harm and refocus on what keeps whānau strong.
Shaped by identity, whakapapa, and tikanga, this wānanga shifts away from deficit-based thinking. Instead, it centres whānau wellbeing, cultural connection, and our shared responsibility to look after one another.
Rūrū Parirau speaks to the act of shaking things off and letting go of the harmful stereotypes that have long linked Māori and alcohol. It’s about reclaiming our narrative and standing firmly in our mana and identity. Inspired by Hirini Melbourne’s waiata Tihore Mai, the phrase is being reimagined as a call for change.
Healthy Families Rotorua systems innovator Teteira Ormsby says the kaupapa is about reconnecting with who we’ve always been.
“This kaupapa reminds us that alcohol was never part of who we are as Māori. Our tīpuna lived well, guided by strong systems of wellbeing long before alcohol arrived. Rūrū Parirau is about shaking off the stories that don’t serve us, and reconnecting with the strength that already lives within our whānau, our culture, and our everyday ways of being Māori.”
The hui has been shaped by what the community has asked for: Māori-led approaches that move away from deficit thinking, create uplifting spaces, centre lived experience, and stay focused on people rather than politics.
“This is a space for our people, by our people,” says Teteira.
“What we heard was a real desire to focus on solutions, identity, and hope. That’s what this wānanga is about – uplifting our stories, celebrating leadership, and recognising that being Māori is a strength and a protective force.”
Throughout the day, the wānanga will explore identity beyond struggle, what kotahitanga looks like in action, and how cultural practices strengthen our hauora. The programme will include:
- A keynote on life and wellbeing before alcohol
- Whakapapa and historical storytelling
- Lived experiences and positive role models from Te Arawa whānau
- Sessions focused on shifting narratives and looking ahead
- Creative, interactive elements that bring collective expression to life.
The kaupapa is also guided by the first kauhau of Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai-hono-i-te-po, carrying forward a vision of unity, cultural pride, and intergenerational wellbeing.
More details, including venue, speakers, and how to register, will be shared soon.
