Ngā Ara ki te Taiao: Wānanga 2025
1st - 4th July 2025 | Motueka, Nelson
We invite you to join the Whenua Iti Outdoors team in Te Tauihu for an inspiring 4-day journey of exploration, learning, and connection. This unique experience is designed to deepen our understanding of Te Āo Māori and enhance active and outdoor recreation practices through learning opportunities to deepen our understanding of and connection to Te Taiao.
Nāku te rourou, nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi
With your basket and my basket the people will thrive
What to expect
Immersive learning in nature
Engage in active recreation experiences that connect deeply with the natural world.
Inspiring speakers
Gain insights and inspiration from experts sharing their journeys and perspectives.
Collaborative idea-sharing in a safe space
Explore how we can better integrate Te Ao Māori and Te Taiao into active recreation, fostering meaningful community connections to uplift rangatahi Māori. This will be a safe and uplifting learning environment to ask pātai and seek understanding to further your kaupapa.
Come together with like-minded professionals to create richer, more meaningful experiences that benefit the active recreation sector and the communities we serve.
Who should attend?
This opportunity is ideal for active recreation professionals who are interested in enhancing their environments and practices through deeper engagement with Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview). Whether you're a:
- Facility manager overseeing recreation centres or sports venues
- Parks and open space practitioner focused on outdoor areas and public spaces
- Teaching and learning facilitator working in active education
- Outdoor education instructor engaging people in nature-based activities
- Sports development coach mentoring athletes and teams
This program is designed to be inclusive and relevant, offering tools and knowledge that resonate across the entire active recreation community. It's perfect for professionals who are open to learning, connecting, and enriching their work by integrating Te Ao Māori perspectives.
Wānanga Schedule
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 1st | Wānanga starts midday, afternoon tea provided |
| Wednesday 2nd | Optional dawn waka paddle, concurrent sessions, lunch provided, afternoon activities. |
| Thursday 3rd | Concurrent sessions, lunch provided, afternoon activities, keynote & dinner provided |
| Friday 4th | Breakfast provided, final keynote, poroporoaki, finishing midday |
A full schedule will be published closer to the date of the wānanga.
Calling all Inspirational Speakers & Facilitators!
Are you passionate about connecting with and inspiring professionals in the active recreation sector? We recognise the immense breadth, depth, and power of knowledge within our communities—particularly in areas like nature-based connection, mātauranga, and effective programme delivery in Te Taiao.
Do you have knowledge to share, a success story to grow awareness of, or a case study that could inspire others in the field? We want to hear from you!
Each session during the wānanga will be 75 minutes long, designed to be interactive, engaging, and active, catering to groups of approximately 25 participants. Speakers may also be asked to deliver their session more than once throughout the programme to enable access by all attendees.
If this sounds like you, join us in enriching the future of active recreation through shared knowledge and inspiration!
Speakers/facilitators will receive a 50% discount on the wānanga registration. (It's fine to co-present, but the discount applies to the lead speaker).
Proposals are due by April 10th.
To submit a session proposal, please complete the following form
If you require further information please email us.
Registration Fee
$500+GST pp | By 30th May
Your registration fee covers the cost of all sessions and activities, including transport within the wānanga. This fee covers afternoon tea on day 1, lunch on day 2 & 3, and dinner on day 3. The dawn waka paddle (limited numbers) is an extra $70pp, you can sign up when you register.
Wānanga Venue
The wānanga will take place at Whakatū Marae on day 1, Motueka High School on day 2, 3 and 4 as well as various places of cultural significance in the region. Transport will be provided to access the activities at locations of interest.
Dinner will be the the Moutere Hills Community Centre. Transport will be provided to and from Motueka.
Accommodation
We have preferential rates secured for the wānanga at the following providers in Motueka:
Bethany Park -15% off all cabins booked. Quote Whenua Iti
Kaiteretere Recreation Reserve - 15% off all cabins booked. Quote Whenua Iti.
Motueka Top 10 Holiday Park - Special rate of $85 for a standard cabin or 15% off. Quote Whenua Iti.
Avalon Manor Motels - Special rate of $150 per room if 5 or more are booked. Or $160 per room if less than 5. Quote Whenua Iti.
Transport
We will run airport shuttles to and from the airport. Pick up times will be 9am, 10am and 11am. Departures will be at 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
Transport will be provided to and from accommodation in Motueka, as well as to the dinner on Thursday night.
We encourage car pooling if you plan to hire a vehicle from Nelson!
Want to find out more about a programme or have a question for us? Talk to one of our friendly team - we're happy to help.