06/01/2026
Every journey begins with intention.
We gathered in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa at the close of the year, racing waka and reconnecting as whānau.
Above us stands Te Ikaroa a Rauru, the waka captained by Māia Poroaki from Hawaiki to Tūranganui-a-Kiwa. Designed by Ngāti Oneone artist Nick Tupara, the sculpture forms part of the Puhi Kai Iti project, created to restore balance to the stories of this place and honour the first Polynesian navigators.
It speaks to navigation, memory, and whakapapa.
To knowing where you come from before choosing where you are going.
As we step into 2026, we begin here.