Te Whare Tukutuku 2025: A Wānanga of Healing, Connection, and Strength
Te Whare Tukutuku, a network of Māori and Pacific heart health professionals funded by the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, came together for their third in-person wānanga in Rotorua on the 22nd of May. Set in the beautiful park and food garden of the Linton Park Community Centre, attendees reconnected, put calls out for collaboration on key projects, and spent time nurturing spiritual and physical health with a day of activities.
Founded by Cardiologist Dr Wil Harrison, Dr Corina Grey, and Dr Anna Rolleston, Te Whare Tukutuku speaks to the Māori concept of Āhuru Mōwai, a calm place or a sheltered haven. Attendees travelled from all over New Zealand and included Māori and Pacific researchers, Nurse Specialists, Equity Advisers, Cardiologists, Allied Health and more.
Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence for Heart Health Equity in Aotearoa NZ, had a strong representation at the gathering, making up about half the attendees. Pūtahi Manawa Co-Director Māori Dr Karen Brewer said: " Māori and Pacific kaimahi (workers) are vitally important in the heart health space. Recent research with Māori and Pacific patients, whānau and health care providers has shown the positive impact that comes from patients and health care providers having a shared cultural background. We are committed to working alongside CSANZ and Te Whare Tukutuku to develop and support our Māori and Pacific workforce”.
A space for healing and growth
Master Māori ceramicist Matua Wi Taepa of Ngāti Pikiao, Te-Roro-o-Te-Rangi, Te Arawa and Te Atiawa descent, led the group in a restorative clay shaping exercise, concluding with participants pairing up and sharing their challenges and strengths. Matua Wi said that after listening to the collective's kōrero in the morning, he changed his mind about how they would work with the clay. "I've heard so much mamae (hurt, pain) from you all, and you are dealing with this daily in your mahi (work). Today, I hope you can capture and release your mamae, then give energy to your strengths with this clay practice."
Ura Mai Fitness shook things up in the afternoon with a Cook Islands dance lesson and fitness session. Rongoa Practitioner Rawinia Phillips Smith shared tonics and imparted some basic harvesting knowledge for good practice.
Erina Korohina, Te Whare Tukutuku Organising Committee Member, said, "The reflections we received speak to the healing power of our Whare Tukutuku whānau finding a sense of mauri tau (peace) — a chance to set down some of the weight carried over the past year, and to reconnect with each other within a space of āhuru mōwai (a calm place or a sheltered haven).”