Te Ara Mauri is an open rōpū that weaves together the healing power of rongoā Māori, maramataka, environmental reconnection, Te Whare Tapa Whā, and embodied hauora practices like yoga, breathwork, mindfulness, and taonga pūoro. Designed for both whaiora and kaimahi, this programme offers a holistic journey that reconnects participants to wairua, whenua, whānau, tinana, and hinengaro - enhancing resilience, identity, and wellbeing.

Programme Purpose

To empower participants to:

Reconnect with the whenua, themselves, and their whakapapa.

Build spiritual, mental, physical, and social wellbeing (Te Whare Tapa Whā)

Explore cultural tools for regulation, grounding, and healing.

Experience rongoā and mātauranga Māori through lived practice.

Here is some of the content this rōpū will be covering week to week:

WEEK THEME

POU (TE WHARE TAPA WHĀ)

FOCUS

KAUPAPA (ACTIVITIES)

Te Wā o te Whakatō Ora - Planting Intentions

TAHA WAIRUA

Matariki, Spiritual preparation, intention setting,

Karakia, 9 stars wānanga, taonga puoro meditation, plant kūmara or kawakawa

Living by the Maramataka

TAHA HINENGARO

Emotional rhythm, stress awareness, moon cycles,

Learn local maramataka, create moon-phase calendar, mood tracking, breathwork

Ngā Taonga o te Taiao - Body and Earth

TAHA TINANA

Physical wellbeing through kai, movement & taiao,

Hīkoi to identify kai/rongoā, mindful movement (walking meditation),

composting/gardening

Whakaora i te Taiao - Kaitiakitanga in

Action

TAHA WAIRUA

Tapu/noa, environmental and spiritual responsibility,

Harvesting with karakia, tree planting (mānuka/harakeke), guided reflection

Mā, Tika, Pono – Truth and Integrity

TAHA HINEGNARO

Healing through values, emotional expression,

Journaling on integrity, roleplay with compassion, mindfulness, and silence

Mana & Matakite - Intuition and Strength

TAHA WHĀNAU

Inner power, confronting safely, whanaungatanga,

Wānanga on mana, taonga pūoro sound journey, confronting with manaakitanga

Raranga me te Toi Māori - Weaving Connection

TAHA TINANA

Creative healing through hands and stories.

Harakeke weaving, tikanga kōrero, yoga,

pūrākau/storytellingcircle

Te Whakatō Mauri - Reflection and Return

TE WHARE TAPA WHĀ

Celebration, closure, whakapapa reconnection

Whānau celebration, share creations/stories, plant mauri tree or bury intentions

No bookings are required. Please contact Tiana Te Moana for more information. Tiana.TeMoana@hewakatapu.org.nz

Te Ara Mauri is more than a wellbeing group - it is a sacred haerenga of remembering, planting, weaving, and healing. By merging rongoā Māori, Te Whare Tapa Whā, maramataka, and

embodied hauora tools, it creates a living, breathing kaupapa for both whaiora and kaimahi to return to themselves and the taiao - together.

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This group is an integral part of Whai Rawatia te Oranga (Pursue the wealth of health) | open Groups, our holistic health pursuit initiative. Open groups create a space of papa kainga ahi kā, a pā (a place where you feel connected and comfortable) to strengthen your hauora.

These groups collectively contribute to strengthening your Te Whare Tapa Wha:

Taha Wairua (Spiritual)

Taha Tinana (Physical)

Taha Whānau (Family and Social)

Taha Hinengaro (Mental and Emotional) wellbeing

Additionally, Taha Whenua - connection to the land forms its foundation. Balancing these dimensions is crucial for overall wellness.