Te Ara Orama:
The Pathway To Light
Indigenous Practices & Philosophies Of Wellbeing
Te Ara Orama is a journey of deep connection to self, our world and indigenous wisdom.
A Journey Home To Self
Throughout this wānanga, you will be held within indigenous philosophies, ancestral practices, and the living presence of wairua as you move through the realms of both Papatuanuku and Ranginui.
This wānanga will guide you from a foundational understanding of our practices through to the confidence to offer romiromi safely.
Across our time together, you will be supported to integrate and embody traditional practices that nurture holistic wellbeing.
The offering
We recognise that in these times, pūtea, time, and energy are precious, and many are being asked to stretch these resources further than ever before.
With accessibility in mind, we have restructured our full wānanga into a series of its natural components. These offerings are designed to be taken in order (from 1 to 4).
The four modules are:
1. Te Kore
Stepping into the unknown to find our innate potential
Dates: 26 – 29 June 2026
2. Te Po
Activating our unlimited potential and giving ourselves permission to evolve
Dates: 10-13 September 2026
3. Te Hinatore
Finding our horizon and our dawning enlightenment
Dates: 21-24 January 2027
4. Te Whai Ao
Activating and stepping into the world of light
Dates: 20-23 May 2027
Foundations
Beginning with core foundations, you will learn what romiromi is, how it works to release blocked energy, trauma and disease, and why safety, integrity and spiritual protection are essential when working in this way.
We will connect to the realms of the atua, the whakapapa of energy and vibration, and traditional tools such as waiata, takutaku and kaupare that our tūpuna used to navigate their lives and stay in right relationship with themselves, each other and the natural world.
As you move deeper, the wānanga expands into more detailed exploration and practice of romiromi. You will work with haemata (pressure points), the whatumanawa and the subtle energetic systems of the body, learning how to establish and maintain spiritual safety while holding space for others.
Through whitiwhiti kōrero, pūrākau, karakia, waiata and hands-on bodywork, you will experience romiromi as a powerful modality that addresses physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual dimensions of health, supporting the wholistic being to return to its natural state of balance.
We will explore traditional tools and mātauranga of our ancestors to help navigate our way through this modern world.
Deeper Waters
We will explore these deeper dimensions throughout the wānanga:
Papatuānuku - Grounding into the Body
Reconnect with papatuānuku, the mother and sustainer of us all through romiromi, mirimiri, haemata and embodied practice. Learn to anchor into your tinana and listen to the wisdom held in your bones.
Rangi - Navigating the Realms of Wairua
We will traverse the celestial realms and dimensions. Learn to invoke, protect, open, and trust the unseen currents that guide you.
Purākau & Raranga
We will come into connection with the taiao, connecting with our tuakana in the world around us and learning from them how to weave and flow through life.
The Three Hearts
We will navigate the three manawa, learning and exploring their depths and how balancing these becomes the foundation of living a balanced life
- Pūmanawa – Emotional Heart: intuitive knowing and emotional clarity
- Manawa – Physical Heart: essential knowing and insight
- Whatumanawa – Spiritual Heart: connection with wairua and universal wisdom
Who this is for
The kaupapa is open and inclusive – whether you are just beginning or already working as a healer, whakapapa Māori or not, you are welcome to step into this space of mutual respect, humility and shared learning.
This journey unfolds throughout the year, honouring the diverse lifestyles and rhythms of our community.
Please note that our foundational wānanga Hau Maranga is a prerequisite to beginning your journey of Te Ara Orama. If you have not yet completed this immersive wānanga yet, head over to our Hau Maranga page to register.
FAQ
To ensure all participants enter this space with a solid and safe foundation, we ask that you complete our fully-funded one day Hau Maranga wānanga before signing up.
You can find out more, see upcoming dates or join our waitlist here https://tewharewhakaora.co.nz/hau-maranga/
No. You are free to enroll in whichever wānanga is calling you. We strongly suggest that Modules 1 and 2 are taken together. All four modules are deeply interconnected and form a complete a body of knowledge so we do encourage all four be taken if it is within your means to do so.
We are holding this waananga in Whangarei, specific location details will be provided upon signup
The kaupapa is open and inclusive – whether you are just beginning or already working as a healer, whakapapa Māori or not, you are welcomed into a space of mutual respect, humility and shared learning.
We are currently in the process of formalising recognition for studies undertaken with Te Whare Whakaora. In the meantime, you will receive a Certificate of Completion for each module you complete.
Clicking the signup button on this page will guide you through securing your place in each wānanga. Once your registration is complete, you will receive an invoice from us with simple payment instructions.
A deposit is due within 5 days of receiving your invoice to confirm your spot. Full payment for each wānanga must be received at least two weeks prior to the start date.
Yes, you are able to pay for this invoice in part payments that suit your needs, but please note, payment is due in full two weeks before the start date. If you have further patai on this matter please reach out to kiaora@tewharewhakaora.co.nz.
If you need to cancel your booking, kei te pai. As long as you cancel at least two weeks before the start date, your deposit will be refunded. Please email kiaora@tewharewhakaora.co.nz and we’ll help get everything sorted.
To keep costs lower for our whānau, we have opted not to fully cater this wānanga. A light, nutritious lunch will be provided each day, and simple refrigeration and cooking facilities are available onsite.
This wānanga does not include accommodation. A limited number of marae-style on-site accommodation can be provided for an additional fee, alternatively you are welcome to arrange your own accommodation in the local area. Get in touch via kiaora@tewharewhakaora.co.nz for further patai and if you require recommendations for local accommodation options.
Each module consists of 4 days in person and one online session.
We aim to keep this offering fairlry small and intimate. We expect group sizes to average at around 12 participants per module.
