About Wai Ora Marae
A place of connection, culture, and community for our whānau, hapū, iwi, and future generations.Ko Wai Ora Marae tō tātou ipukarea, he tohu taurikura mō ngā uri whakaheke; te pokapū ō te hāpori, kia puawai te mana Motuhake ō Ngāti Kurī.
Wai Ora marae is the thriving heart of our Ngāti Kurī identity for our whānau whānui; and a sustainable epicentre of cultural activity for our community of Ngātaki.
Ko Maieke te Tupuna
Ko Kurahaupo te Pahii
Ko Pōhurihanga te Tangata
Ko Tohoraha te Maunga
Ko Houhora te Wahapū
Ko Ngātaki te Awa
Ko Wai Ora te Marae
Ko Ngātakinga o Mokohōrea te Marae Ātea
Ko Tangirere te Wharenui
Ko Whakarua te Whare Kai
Ko Urutekawa te Urupā
Ko Ngāti Kurī te Iwi
Our Logo
The water drop shape depicts “He Wai Ora” which evokes imagery of a central spring that is a gathering place for our people of Ngāti Kurī. The five notches represent our significant maunga Mango Piko, Tohu Reo, Kohuroa, Tohoraha and Utea. The sweeping lines are our beaches Te One Roa a Tohe, Te Wahapu o Houhora and Rarawa. Ngātaki is the convergence point of many waters ‘he rarawa’, Wai Māori, Wai Tai, Wairua, Wai Whenua and Wai Ora.
History
Wai Ora Marae was gazetted in 1983 and remains one of two marae central to Ngāti Kurī and the wider Te Hiku o Te Ika community. The name ‘Wai Ora’ originated after Neta Paraone discovered a freshwater spring at the marae in the 1930s and exclaimed, ‘He Wai Ora!’ meaning ‘vital waters’. The name symbolises the marae as a central spring of knowledge, connection, aroha, and wellbeing for our people.
Role of the Marae
Wai Ora Marae is a cultural and communal hub supporting tangihanga, hura kōhatu, hui-a-whānau, hapū and iwi gatherings, wānanga, celebrations, and cultural revitalisation. It is a place where whānau reconnect with eachother, whakapapa, whenua, mātauranga, and tikanga Māori.
Values / Tikanga
Manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, kaitiakitanga, kotahitanga, and wairuatanga guide all mahi at Wai Ora Marae. The marae values cultural integrity, environmental stewardship, community wellbeing, and strengthening connections for future generations.
Development Vision
Wai Ora Marae is working toward a purpose-built, sustainable marae complex that supports the future aspirations of Ngāti Kurī. The redevelopment vision includes upgraded facilities for larger gatherings, spaces for cultural learning, hauora and wellbeing initiatives, community gardens, environmental restoration projects, and resilient infrastructure for future generations.
Kete Mahi
The mahi of Wai Ora Marae is guided by five kete mahi: Tikanga me ngā Kawa, Taonga Tuku Iho, Mahinga Kai, Hanga Whare, and Atawhaitanga. These areas support cultural leadership, inherited knowledge, food sovereignty, marae development, and environmental guardianship.
Community & Cultural Initiatives
Ongoing + future initiatives include te reo classes, waiata sessions, gathering our stories, archival + photo digitisation, community gardens, shelter belt planting, arts programmes, environmental projects, youth engagement, and health and wellbeing activities for whānau and the wider community.