“Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata” — When the land is well, the people will be well. This whakataukī resonated throughout Ngā Ara ki te Taiao, a four-day wānanga hosted by Whenua Iti Outdoors in Motueka this July.
Despite the downpour and flood warnings, the wānanga brought together passionate kaimahi from across Aotearoa’s active recreation sector — united in their commitment to deepen their understanding of te ao Māori and their connection to te taiao.
Funded by Sport New Zealand as part of Te Pākē o Ihi Aotearoa (Sport NZ’s Māori Outcomes Framework), this kaupapa created a unique space for learning, reflection and connection — not only to place, but to people and purpose. For many, this was more than a professional development opportunity — it was a reminder of why we do this mahi and with rangatahi voices at the wānanga, who we’re doing it for.
The wānanga began with a pōwhiri at Whakatū Marae, a perfect setting for whakawhanaungatanga. Participants shared stories, kai, and kōrero — some forming bonds that would last well beyond the week. Across the following days, the learning deepened. A pre-dawn Matariki viewing in Kaiteretere invited quiet reflection under a starlit sky, guided by karakia and pūrākau. Workshops with Hawaiki Kura explored reconnection to whakapapa and identity through taonga tuku iho. Taonga pūoro offered both sound and silence as healing tools, while renowned rongoā expert Pā Ropata reminded us that “if we listen to the rākau, they will teach us all we need to know.”
Appreciative workshop participants with Pā Ropata; Shep Hēpara weaving the kōrero.
Sport Tasman introduced us to Tākaro that could both respond to and shift energies, TDC shared their mātauranga and te ao Māori informed approach to ecological restoration, WIO kaiako and graduates of the Manaaki Tāpoi Programme shared their journeys and insights as tauira and now educators, and Tasman Bay Guardians inspired us to tiaki te taiao, to actively protect and care for the environment.
Even the relentless rain served a purpose — reconnecting us to the rhythms of te taiao, to the grounding role the environment plays in our wellbeing, and the importance of protecting it for generations to come.
Throughout the wānanga, participants reflected on the power of these shared experiences:
“Being in the elements grounds me — it reconnects me with why we do this mahi.”
“Core values like te taiao and he tangata sit at the heart of both Te Ao Māori and outdoor education.”
“Some of the most powerful kōrero came between sessions, over coffee or while walking the bush.”
Ngā Ara ki te Taiao showed what’s possible when we create space for cross-sector learning strongly grounded in tikanga. It demonstrated the value of bringing people together to share knowledge, reflect on our responsibilities, and grow cultural confidence in a supportive environment. This is how we strengthen our collective practice and move toward a more inclusive, bicultural future in the active recreation sector and across our education practices.
He mihi nui to the many people who brought their energy, stories and expertise to this kaupapa. Deep gratitude to our mana whenua, our inspirational speakers and facilitators, and Sport New Zealand for their tautoko.
We look forward to the next wānanga, and to walking more of these pathways together — ngā ara ki te taiao.
