Te Arahou MAC
Hui ā Tau
2025
19 - 22 Oketopa
Te Rohe o Waikato-Tainui
He Tono
An invitation to attend
Nau mai, haere mai ki te wānanga whakahirahira o te tau 2025.
Nau mai, haere mai ki te rohe o Waikato-Tainui.
Te Rohe o Waikato-Tainui calls you to attend this unique wānanga. Engage in experiences firmly grounded in mātauranga Māori, whakapapa, and the enduring spirit of the Kiingitanga legacy.
Four powerful days of wānanga. Deep learning, movement, kōrero, whanaungatanga and hauora. A Hui ā tau that brings together tumuaki, kaiako, and leaders from across the motu to reflect, learn, and look to the future. Through experiential learning and one of a kind experiences, we will explore the past, confront the present, and shape the future for ākonga Māori and for all.
Ko Mookau ki runga
Ko Taamaki ki raro
Ko Mangatoatoa ki waenganui
Pare Hauraki, Pare Waikato
Te Kaokaoroa-o-Paatetere
ki te Nehenehenui
Ngā Haerenga
Many Journeys
This year sees a return to the MAC wānanga of the early days. A living, breathing wānanga carried by those in attendance and the people and lands of Waikato-Tainui. Leaving behind the static conference experience of the past. We will visit sites of immense historical and cultural significance: Mangatoatoa Paa, Rangiaowhia, Ōrākau, Tūrangawaewae, and the sacred waters of the Waikato Awa.
From hīkoi ā whenua and guided art tours to waka journeys and e-bike trails along te awa o Waikato, participants will walk (and paddle) in the footsteps of tūpuna, led by local haukāinga and storytellers of the land.
“Ki te kotahi te kākaho ka whati. Ki te kāpuia e kore e whati.”
When a reed stands alone, it can easily break. When bound together, they become unbreakable.
– Kingi Tāwhiao
Ngā Mahi Whakahirahira
Highlights
Tira Hoe & E-Bike Journeys:
Paddle the Waikato River aboard double-hulled waka and cycle the trails with local guides, tracing ancestral routes and learning the stories of the awa.
Hīkoi ā Whenua – Māori Art Tour of Kirikiriroa:
A guided and reflective walk along the riverbank to the museum and galleries, sharing the rich cultural footprint of the city. Learn about the stories of Kirikiriroa Pā, one of the most significant pā, once located where much of the central city now stands.Historic Sites Tour, Mangatoatoa & Beyond:
Travel to the heartlands of resistance and resilience. Hear the stories of Ngāti Apakura, Ngāti Maniapoto, and others who stood to protect their whenua and people.Private Screening – Ka Whawhai Tonu:
Experience the powerful film retelling the Battle of Ōrākau from a Māori perspective, a defining moment in the story of Aotearoa.MAC Hākari Kai – Conference Dinner:
Share kai, kōrero, and connection with leaders from across the country. Good food, good people, good music.
Te Kotahitanga
A call to unity
Ko Kiingi Tuheitia ki te rangi,
Ko Te Arikinui Kuini Nga Wai Hono i te Po ki te whenua, e noho ana ia ki runga i te ahurewa tapu o ōna mātua tupuna e kōkiritia nei ngā moemoeā mō tōna pāpā, te "kiingi o te kotahitanga".
Ko te Kāhui Ariki whānui hoki.
Rire rire hau,
Paimārire.
We must also honour the legacy of Kiingi Tuheitia and his unwavering call for kotahitanga, we consider how we too can stand together as a collective of the willing to carry the kaupapa of MAC Te Arahou o Aotearoa into the future. Māori achieving success as Māori with courage, clarity, and collective strength. Upholding the aspirations of a bilingual, bicultural future for all.
Te Rā Whakamutunga
Final Day Sustaining the MAC Kaupapa
Ka Whawhai Tonu: As the end of 2025 draws near, we reflect on the survival and strength of the Kīngitanga and how we can apply this resilience to ensuring a future for Te Arahou o Aotearoa.
Hoana Pearson QSM and the MAC team will lead a powerful morning of kōrero, panel discussion, and collective visioning while making connections to the learnings from throughout the hui. We will think critically about our kura and our kaupapa.
Ngā Pātai
FAQ
-
Our day will commence at 4:30pm on Sunday 19 October and we will be finished by 1:00pm on the Wednesday 22 October.
-
Our Waikato-Tainui Hui ā Tau is held in Kirikiriroa. The conference base will be Te Pā, University of Waikato, Hillcrest Road, Hamilton and Novotel Tainui (for bus departures on Monday and Tuesday), 7 Alma Street, Hamilton Central.
-
This four day wānanga is a complete experience, therefore we will not be offering single day registrations.
-
Āe, please book your accommodation as soon as possible.
Novotel Tainui and Ibis are our preferred accommodation and are offering rates of 10% off their best available public rate for all guests attending out Te Arahou MAC Hui a Tau 2025.
Book direct HERE
Alternatively, there are plenty of options in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton.
-
We encourage you to bring members of your staff/BoT/school whānau - knowledge shared is better than knowledge kept. However we ask that you bring at max of 5 attendees to give our MAC kura the opportunity to attend.
This Hui ā Tau is capped at 300 attendees each so best to register early to ensure your place.
-
Kāo, our conference dinner on the evening of Tuesday 21 October is a separate cost from your registration this year.
We have kept this cost low for you. At $55pp your Hākari Kai registration includes an entrée, main course, dessert, and drink tickets, with music provided by a local DJ. You are welcome to bring a friend, just ensure they purchase a ticket.
You may register HERE
Te Pā, Waikato University, Kirikiriroa