Kahungunu Water Safety Wānanga 2026

The Kahungunu Water Safety Wānanga is an immersive, hands-on experience designed to bring whānau Māori together to reconnect with our wai and learn how to dive and gather kai safely. Grounded in tikanga and mātauranga Māori, this wānanga prioritises water safety, ensuring that every participant gains the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills needed to keep themselves and their whānau safe in and around the moana.

At the end of the wānanga, participants will come away with a strong foundation in free-diving safety and technique, alongside a deeper appreciation for the cultural and spiritual significance of wai.

What to Expect

Whānau will engage in a range of activities including:

Day 1 – Theory & Pool Training (Centralines Sports Complex, Waipukurau):

Day one begins with dive safety theory and key fundamentals, including risk awareness, breathwork, and buddy systems. Participants will then put this in to practice, the essential dive and breathing techniques in a swimming pool, a safe, controlled environment to build confidence before entering the open water.

Day 2 – Ocean Dive (Pourerere Beach): 

Building on the safety and skills developed on Day 1, participants will apply their learning in the ocean, diving to depths of up to 5 metres under the guidance of experienced instructors. The focus will remain on safe diving practices, kai gathering, and collective responsibility in the water

Tikanga and Mātauranga Māori: 

Sessions will weave together traditional and contemporary knowledge, highlighting the cultural, environmental, and spiritual importance of wai and Tangaroa.

Knowledge Sharing:

Resources summarising key safety teachings and mātauranga shared throughout the wānanga will be provided, encouraging ongoing learning and safe diving practices within whānau and communities.

Who is it For?

This wānanga is suited for whānau from ages 16 years and over who are interested in learning about water safety, safe diving practices, and the cultural connections to wai. It’s ideal for those wanting to build practical dive skills while gaining a deeper understanding of tikanga Māori and the significance of our waterways.

Our Dive Instructors & Facilitators

Kris Arnold

A PADI Freedive and EFR Instructor, Kristina brings together her expertise in water safety, education, and hauora to create empowering diving experiences for whānau. With qualifications in Outdoor Education, Risk Management, and a Bachelor of Health Science, she has a strong foundation in both physical and mental well-being. Kristina has delivered breathwork workshops for tāne, wāhine, and rangatahi, supporting men seeking mental health outlets, women reclaiming space in the water, and youth eager to connect with their fathers and the moana. Currently teaching Outdoor Experiences at EIT, she works closely with whānau from Central Hawke’s Bay to Ruatoria, fostering confidence, safety, and connection through mātauranga and the ocean.

Rawiri Broughton

Ra has been diving for many years and has explored some of Aotearoa’s most iconic underwater locations, from Fiordland to Whakaari / White Island and Aotea / Great Barrier Island. His journey into freediving instruction grew from necessity, diving regularly with a close-knit crew, Rawiri recognised that while the passion for the moana was strong, the safety knowledge needed to be stronger.

Determined to uplift the collective, he upskilled to ensure his crew had the skills, drills, and decision-making needed to dive safely and confidently. In 2023, Rawiri qualified as a PADI Freedive Instructor and now brings a strong focus on safety, preparedness, and real-world experience to his teaching.

When summer offers a rare window of free time, Rawiri can be found wherever the visibility is best, doing what he loves most, being in the water.

Tina Rangi

Tina is the founder of Wāhine Divers and an experienced water safety practitioner based across Te Matau-a-Māui and Wairarapa. She is an MPI Fisheries Officer, holds a Day Skipper qualification, Freediving Level 1 certification, and is a Project Jonah Mammal Medic, with specialist expertise in aquaculture and marine environments.

Through her mahi, Tina shares both legislative and mātauranga-based knowledge around sustainability, compliance, and safe kai gathering across diverse marine settings. As an Honorary Fishery Coordinator, she has a strong presence within communities from Māhia to Wairarapa, supporting whānau to engage with Te Taiao in safe, informed, and sustainable ways.

Within water safety wānanga, Tina teaches maramataka, tidal movements, reef structures, seaweeds, and the whakapapa of kai moana, alongside practical skills such as CPC (catch, process, cook), freedive safety, and reading ocean conditions. Her kaupapa centres whakawhanaungatanga, creating spaces where whānau can build confidence, trust their bodies, and develop lifelong skills to move safely within the moana.

What to Bring

To make the most of the wānanga, please bring the following personal gear and items.

Dive & Water Gear

You will need to bring your own:

• Wetsuit

• Mask & snorkel

• Fins & booties

• Weight belt (optional)

• Gloves (optional)

Wet Gear & Change of Clothes

• Togs

• Warm clothing / change of clothes

• 2 x towels

Day 1 Essentials

• Drink bottle

• Lunch for Day 1

• A small koha for our pōwhiri (anything you are comfortable giving)

Noho Marae (Overnight Marae stay)

• Blanket or sleeping bag

• Single sheet

• Pillow

• Towel & toiletries

• Warm clothing

• Ear plugs (if you’re a light sleeper)