Te Ara Mauri is an 8-week group programme that weaves together the healing power of rongoā Māori, maramataka, environmental reconnection, Te Whare Tapa Whā, and embodied hauora practices like yoga, breathwork, mindfulness, and taonga pūoro. Designed for both whaiora and kaimahi, this programme offers a holistic journey that reconnects participants to wairua, whenua, whānau, tinana, and hinengaro - enhancing resilience, identity, and wellbeing.

Programme Purpose

To empower participants to:

Reconnect with the whenua, themselves, and their whakapapa.
Build spiritual, mental, physical, and social wellbeing (Te Whare Tapa Whā)
Explore cultural tools for regulation, grounding, and healing.
Experience rongoā and mātauranga Māori through lived practice.

1: Te Wā o te Whakatō Ora - Planting Intentions	TAHA WAIRUA	Matariki, Spiritual preparation, intention setting,	Karakia, 9 stars wānanga, taonga puoro meditation, plant kūmara or kawakawa
WEEK THEME	POU (TE WHARE TAPA WHĀ)	FOCUS	KAUPAPA (ACTIVITIES)
2: Living by the Maramataka	TAHA HINENGARO	Emotional rhythm, stress awareness, moon cycles,	Learn local maramataka, create moon-phase calendar, mood tracking, breathwork
3: Ngā Taonga o te Taiao - Body and Earth	TAHA TINANA	Physical wellbeing through kai, movement & taiao,	Hīkoi to identify kai/rongoā, mindful movement (walking meditation), composting/gardening
4: Whakaora i te Taiao - Kaitiakitanga in Action	TAHA WAIRUA	Tapu/noa, environmental and spiritual responsibility,	Harvesting with karakia, tree planting (mānuka/harakeke), guided reflection
5: Mā, Tika, Pono – Truth and Integrity	TAHA HINEGNARO	Healing through values, emotional expression,	Journaling on integrity, roleplay with compassion, mindfulness, and silence
6: Mana & Matakite - Intuition and Strength	TAHA WHĀNAU	Inner power, confronting safely, whanaungatanga,	Wānanga on mana, taonga pūoro sound journey, confronting with manaakitanga
7: Raranga me te Toi Māori - Weaving Connection	TAHA TINANA	Creative healing through hands and stories.	Harakeke weaving, tikanga kōrero, yoga, pūrākau/storytellingcircle
8: Te Whakatō Mauri - Reflection and Return	TE WHARE TAPA WHĀ	Celebration, closure, whakapapa reconnection	Whānau celebration, share creations/stories, plant mauri tree or bury intentions

Spaces are limited, Please contact Tiana Te Moana for more information. Tiana.TeMoana@hewakatapu.org.nz

Te Ara Mauri is more than a wellbeing group - it is a sacred haerenga of remembering, planting, weaving, and healing. By merging rongoā Māori, Te Whare Tapa Whā, maramataka, and

embodied hauora tools, it creates a living, breathing kaupapa for both whaiora and kaimahi to return to themselves and the taiao - together.
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This group is an integral part of Whai Rawatia te Oranga (Pursue the wealth of health) | open Groups, our holistic health pursuit initiative. Open groups create a space of papa kainga ahi kā, a pā (a place where you feel connected and comfortable) to strengthen your hauora.

These groups collectively contribute to strengthening your Te Whare Tapa Wha:
Taha Wairua (Spiritual)
Taha Tinana (Physical)
Taha Whānau (Family and Social)
Taha Hinengaro (Mental and Emotional) wellbeing

Additionally, Taha Whenua - connection to the land forms its foundation. Balancing these dimensions is crucial for overall wellness.