Wāhineahuone Hui Taumata ki Te Waipounamu - Karanga Symposium 2026

The echo of the karanga reverberates across Aotearoa, calling us together to celebrate, uplift, and empower wāhine Māori through an event like no other.

With the strength and wisdom of our tīpuna guiding us, Wāhineahuone comes to Ōtautahi, Chirstchurch January 2026.

Mātauranga Māori and the artform of te reo karanga takes centre stage alongside voices of inspiration, learning, and transformation.

Delivered by Kurawaka Ltd, this symposium will be a powerful gathering of wāhine reaffirming the beauty, responsibility, and significance of wāhine Māori as holders and custodians of this crucial tikanga tuku iho.

Learn the origins of karanga and what it looked like before colonisation, understand the tikanga and tapu of our ancient call and take up your role in the regeneration. Your ticket includes a full day immersed in mātauranga, refreshments on arrival and kai throughout the day, a goody bag and access to some of our greatest tohunga in attendance. You will also have access to exclusive discounts on Kurawaka merch available on site.

Guest speakers and their kaupapa:

Te Raina Ferris (Ngāti Kere, Ngāti Takihiku, Kāti Kaweriri)
I ahu mai te reo karanga i hea?
Iriaka Epiha-Ferris (Ngā Puhi, Te Whānau-a-Rākairoa) & Takuta Ferris (Ngāti Kere, Te Whānau-a-Rākairoa, Ngāti Takihiku, Kāti Kaweriri)
Te tapu o te reo karanga
Heeni Te Whakaako Kereru (Ngāi Tahu, Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Ruapani)
Nō tuawhakarere – Te Reo Karanga through the eyes of our tipuna

Miriama Hineawe Ferris (Ngāti Kere, Ngāti Porou, Ngai Tahu, Kati Kaweriri)
Tikanga o te Kaikaranga

Piri Galbraith (Ngāti Kere, Ngāti Porou, Ngai Tahu, Kati Kaweriri)
Karanga outside of the pōhiri process
Kararaina Calcott-Cribb (Ngāti Porou, Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa)
Ā-whānau, ā-hapū, ā-iwi e…
Kim Eriksen-Downs (Ngāti Kahungunu, Tūwharetoa)
Ko au te wānanga, ko te wānanga ko au

KURAWAKA
Pōrangahau has been a welcoming place for many wāhine from all over Aotearoa who are ready to activate and ignite their mātauranga Māori around the artform of te reo karanga, a pivotal tikanga tuku iho for us as wāhine, as tangata whenua of Aotearoa.
Inspired by Māreikura Te Raina Ferris, who has taught thousands of wāhine the responsibilities and beauty of this critical role over the past 25 years with her daughters alongside her, this symposium extends from the sold out inaugural events held in Heretaunga and Tamaki Makaurau earlier this year 2025. Now we bring this special kaupapa to Te Waipounamu for the first time, invited by Ngai Tahu Kahui Taua. Our whāinga matua is to empower and uphold our Paekaranga on every Marae in Aotearoa, nā reira, tukuna kia RERE! Karawhiua!