Through the Hokonui Hauora Fund we were proud to support the recent Nga Taniwha o Murihiku mau rākau wānanga, a three-day kaupapa held at O te Ika Rama Marae in Hokonui. Created in response to interest from local rangatahi, kaiako, and whānau, the wānanga offered an immersive space to explore the traditions, movement, and whakapapa of mau rākau while strengthening cultural identity and community connection.

Forty participants attended, including rangatahi, pakeke, whānau tautoko, and experienced kaiako from the local Te Whare Tū Taua peka who train weekly. Schools from across the region were represented, with some who registered unable to attend expressing interest in future opportunities. Over the course of the wānanga, participants engaged in physical training, kōrero, and reflection, learning not only taiaha technique but also the wider cultural context behind each movement.

The weekend began with a pōwhiri and wero, setting the kaupapa and acknowledging the importance of responding to challenge. A dawn hīkoi to Tūturau Pā deepened connection to whenua and tīpuna, with kōrero shared about the battles fought there and the strategy and mātauranga that sustained iwi across generations.

Training sessions at the marae combined foundational skills with group games to build agility, resilience, and whanaungatanga. More advanced tauira prepared for upcoming grading, while others were introduced to the basics. Alongside the physical learning, participants explored the whakapapa of Te Whare Tū Taua, the atua connected to each stance, and the historical role of the wero as a process of discernment and mana.

The wānanga also introduced Te Puna Mahau, a developing kaupapa using mau rākau and mau patu movements as tools for hauora. Through breathwork, journaling, and mindfulness activities, tauira connected physical movement with emotional awareness and self-regulation.

Evenings included discussion on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Ngāi Tahu history, along with activities focused on reflection, calm, and connection through karakia, taoka puoro, and group sharing. The final day closed with karakia, poroporoaki, and acknowledgements of gratitude from participants and whānau.