Māori History & Heritage

Cultural workshops in Kawerau offer immersive, hands-on educational experiences in traditional Māori arts, specifically focusing on Raranga (weaving) and Whakairo (carving). These sessions provide participants with expert instruction on tikanga (protocols), material preparation, and artistic techniques, fostering community connection and cultural preservation within the Bay of Plenty region. Table of Contents The Cultural Heart of […]

Local iwi economic initiatives in the Kawerau region refer to strategic commercial ventures led by Māori tribal authorities, specifically Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau. These initiatives focus on leveraging collective assets—such as geothermal energy, forestry land, and industrial property—to generate intergenerational wealth, drive regional GDP, and create sustainable employment while adhering to principles of kaitiakitanga (environmental stewardship).

Traditional Māori healing practices, known collectively as Rongoā Māori, encompass a holistic system of healing that integrates medicinal plants (rongoā rākau), physical therapies (mirimiri), and spiritual healing (karakia). Rooted in the connection between the land, the ancestors, and the individual, these practices aim to restore balance across the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of wellbeing.

The Kawerau Heritage Trail Map is a comprehensive navigational guide detailing significant historical sites throughout the Kawerau district. It features a curated walking route highlighting the region’s dual heritage, connecting ancient Māori landmarks with the town’s pivotal forestry industrial history, often accompanied by QR-coded audio storytelling. Table of Contents Accessing the Map: Digital and Physical

Ngāti Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau is a distinct Māori iwi located in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, sharing common ancestry with the Taupō iwi through the eponymous ancestor Tūwharetoa. Their history is defined by the migration of Tūwharetoa’s sons to the Kawerau district, their enduring kaitiakitanga (guardianship) over Mount Putauaki, and their resilience against historical land

Kawerau marae and tikanga encompass the ancestral meeting grounds and cultural protocols of the local Māori community, primarily affiliated with Ngāti Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau. These sacred spaces serve as the heart of social, political, and spiritual life, governed by customs (tikanga) that dictate respectful conduct, welcoming ceremonies (pōwhiri), and community engagement. For residents, visitors, and

Matariki celebrations at Putauaki involve sacred dawn ceremonies (hautapu) held at the base or slopes of Mount Putauaki in Kawerau. These annual events mark the Māori New Year with traditional karakia, stargazing to predict the harvest, and community hākari (feasts), uniting local iwi and residents in cultural remembrance and renewal. The rising of the Matariki

The legend of Mt Putauaki recounts the pūrākau (story) of a lonely mountain who fell in love with the volcanic maiden Whakaari (White Island). In a race against the dawn to reach her, Putauaki was frozen in place by the rising sun, forever remaining as the guardian maunga of Kawerau, separated from his love by