He Pānui: Unveiling of Pouwhenua at Lake Wahakari

In te ao Māori, "te wai mauri" refers to the life force or vital essence that is connected to water. In a broader cultural and ecological sense, this concept is deeply tied to the health of waterways and their surrounding environments. The waning or depletion of te wai mauri, particularly in areas like Te Kao, where Lake Wahakari is located, has a range of impacts on both the environment and our people connected to it.

Sustaining both the environmental and cultural legacy for future generations is crucial and we have been working in collaboration with a number of different government departments such as Northland Regional Council to build capacity, increase matauranga, restore biodiversity and connect our rangatahi to their environmental taonga through wānanga.

Lake Wahakari is the main water supply to our whānau in Te Kao. Let that sink in....

There is no better example of the whakatauki: "Ko te wai te ora o ngā mea kātoa." This means that the state of our environment, in this case our wai, will have a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of our people.

We are running 'Te Wai Mauri' wānanga on the 22nd and 23rd of October 2024 for our tamariki of Te Kao through Te Kura o Te Kao and have a great line up of tautoko who will be presenting, running games and workshops on the shores of our roto, Lake Wahakari. We will be spending two days on Pōtahi Marae and there is no better way for our rangatahi to connect than by being in a kānohi ki te kānohi setting.

At the break of dawn, Wednesday 23rd of October at 5am, we will be unveiling the pouwhenua at Lake Wahakari.

In many cultural, philosophical, and personal frameworks, the journey is often seen as being just as important, if not more so, than the outcome. This concept resonates deeply in Māori culture and other traditions around the world, emphasising growth, learning, and transformation that happen along the way.

The most fulfilling experiences often strike a balance between appreciating the process and working toward a meaningful outcome. When we focus too much on the outcome, we may miss the beauty of the journey. Conversely, if we only focus on the journey without clear goals, we might lose direction or purpose.

Both the journey and the outcome are essential. The journey brings growth, learning, and connection, while the outcome offers a sense of accomplishment and direction. Together, they create a fuller, richer life experience for our people.

You can listen to our Te Aupōuri Pou Whakarae, Tipene Kapa-Kingi share some kōrero around the kaupapa here.