Te Ipukarea Research Institute from AUT are having their writing wānanga here this week. We look forward to hosting you throughout the day and during your four night noho with us.

You can read more about their mahi here https://www.teipukarea.maori.nz/.

Anglican Bishop, Te Kitohi "Kito" Wiremu Pikaahu (ONZM) has been a big part of our growth here at Te Mahurehure Marae. Today Bishop Kito visited us and he brought some international friends, including Canadian Archbishop from Toronto, Colin and Ellen Johnson and Dr Wayne and Anna Lynn Murphy.

We have been a cultural hub for Ngāpuhi since our inception in 1969. Today, we welcomed two cousins to Te Mahurehure Marae from Te Hau Ora O Ngāpuhi who will be working in the Oranga Tamariki space.

Right now, there are 816 Ngāpuhi babies in care, 70% of which are in Tāmaki Makaurau. Those 572 pēpi will be at the core of this crucial mahi. We tautoko you through this journey.

Good Shepard was warmly welcomed with a pōwhiri into Te Mahurehure Marae this morning by our Chair, Christine Panapa MNZM. It's great to have you here for your wānanga.

Today, Te Kotahi a Tāmaki Ngati Tamatera held their Climate Change Symposium here at Taumata o Kupe and Te Mahurehure Marae. This is an important kaupapa for all of us and part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Guest speakers today include Mike Smith, Haukapuanui & Sonny Vercoe, Margie Tukerangi and Matt Gouge.

Whaea Poto welcomed the NZ Institute of Architects who are hosting an architecture tour of Te Taumata o Kupe Nuku here at Te Mahurehure Marae.

Following a welcome pōwhiri, speakers Nick Dalton and Saul Roberts from TOA Architects discussed the integral design of our beautiful Taumata o Kupe.

Welcoming Whakatohea into Taumata o Kupe this morning for an important hui with positive outcomes for whānau. A beautiful morning in Tāmaki Makaurau complimented the karanga by Aunty Wiki perfectly.

Senior staff from Port of Auckland arrived first thing this morning to a warm pōwhiri led by our Chair, Christine Panapa ONZM, before settling in for a day of leadership team building.

Their elite cohort included Paul White, Manager of Māori Outcomes and Port of Auckland CEO Roger Gray who addressed the group saying, "We have built a strong relationship. You are our hosts today, and I also think of you as friends”.

Whariki Māori Business Network arrived this morning for a day long working session at Taumata o Kupe. We enjoy a good relationship together, in particular with Eynon Delamere who has always supported us.

We tautoko the mahi Whariki Māori Business Network do to support and uplift Māori business owners and professionals.

Māori Television’s documentary series The Drawing Board highlights modern Māori architectural talent. Season Two launches this Sunday and features our award winning Taumata o Kupe.

During the fourth episode they focus on how Taumata o Kupe managed to blend storytelling with innovative design honouring the legacy of Kupe, showcasing Mātauranga Māori and celestial navigation.

Watch it here

We welcomed a cohort from New Zealand Tourism onto Te Mahurehure Marae.

Our Chair, Christine Panapa ONZM, did the honours before we shared morning tea and she talked about the rich history of Te Mahurehure amidst the stunning architecture.

It was a return visit for some and a first time for others as they settled in for a two day wānanga at Taumata o Kupe.

We were proud to host the 80th celebrations of Matua Jim Te Wiki (pictured here with his wife Jane) on Saturday night.

Jim’s theme was The Great Gatsby and over half of the 150 invited guests were happy to oblige. Amongst the gathering were Jim and Jane’s whānau, Te Whānau o Waipareira kaimahi and Rōpū Kaumātua; (of which Jim and Jane have been long time members of) and his classmates from Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa.

"I was overwhelmed with the love, the aroha and the wairua all directed in one way. I'm not used to that part. It was a really great night and I wouldn't have had it anywhere else but Te Mahurehure Marae and the whānau here". - Matua Jim Te Wiki.

Aotearoa New Zealand Māori Rugby League (ANZMRL) launched its 2025 uniform alongside Te Tai Tokerau band IlumiNgāti at Te Mahurehure Marae this past weekend.

Over 100 people were in attendance including the AMRL Chair, board and league legends like Tawera Nikau and Shontayne Hape.

Master Chef winners, Kasey and Karena joined Chef Dundee for a sumptuous three course meal amid the many speeches and presentations before IlumiNgāti took to the stage.

We are proud sponsors of ANZMRL and wish all the teams, coaches, governance and supporters a successful year. Thank you to IlumiNgāti for a great performance and having a noho at Taumata o Kupe.

Richmond Road School kaiako were welcomed into Taumata o Kupe this morning by a former student, our very own Aunty Wiki.

After their pōwhiri and morning tea they sat together with our Chair, Christine Panapa to learn the whakapapa of Te Mahurehure Marae before going on a hikoi around the property.

The teachers spent a few hours enjoying Taumata o Kupe before eating a delicious lunch catered by our marae Chef and catering staff.

We wish everyone at Richmond Road School a prosperous and enjoyable year and look forward to having you with us again soon.

The 2025 Rangatahi Cricket Festival was opened today with a pōwhiri at Te Mahurehure Marae.

Here are the proud team captains with the coveted trophy’s they will be playing for at the 2025 Rangatahi Cricket Festival that begins tomorrow.

Around 150 people, including coaches, whānau and volunteers attended the pōwhiri and afternoon tea. A smaller cohort of rangatahi cricket players, including Māori and Polynesian members, will enjoy their noho at Te Mahurehure Marae for the next couple of days.

The festival gets underway from 10:00 AM tomorrow morning at Cornwall & Melville Park.

Te Mahurehure Marae Chairperson, Christine Panapa, was acknowledged in the New Years Honours list 2024.

Christine was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Māori, an honour she says is a team effort.

“It’s not about me, it’s about my parents, my aunties and uncles and my tuwharetoa. We have been here for over 55 years for our people because of all of the connections we have made during that time. If we did not have those relationships, we would not be able to accomplish what we have”.

Christine became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2018.

Accompanied by members of her whānau, Christine will officially receive her honour by the Governor General, Cindy Kiro, at Government House in Auckland May 21, 2025.

It was an honour for us to welcome Pou Rahui: Nga Tohu o Te Taiao Symposium onto Te Mahurehure Marae just before Christmas 2024.

After the pōwhiri the contingent of 120 from Waikato University gathered in Taumata o Kupe for presentations from distinguished keynote speakers including Rereata Mākiha, Professor Rangi Mātāmua (ONZM), Korohere Ngāpō and Dr Apanui Skipper. 

“Thank you and the rest of the team for looking after us at our hui. The pōhiri was beautiful, our people thoroughly enjoyed the kai and the venue just blew us all away”. – Hiria Te Amo, Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao, Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, University of Waikato.

The Chinese Deputy Minister of Cultural and Tourism, Li Qun requested a visit to Taumata o Kupe despite his packed itinerary.

Mr Li Qun and his Chinese cohort were welcomed onto Te Mahurehure Marae by Chair, Christine Panapa and pupils from Auckland Girls Grammar, before entering the award winning Taumata o Kupe. 

The Deputy Minister expressed his gratitude and respect for the warm welcome.

"It is a real delight to be here today with you. We want to bring our excellent cultures together. We invite our Māori friends to Beijing, China and until then we wish you a happy and healthy life". 

Following the formalities, the history of Taumata o Kupe was shared with the international visitors, before they enjoyed kai prepared by marae stuff including hangi and rēwena bread.

We are proud to be recognised by The New Zealand Architect Awards by receiving the John Scott Award for Public Architecture.

Thank you to the incredible team at Toa Architects for their amazing talent and hard work that created Taumata o Kupe. Since we opened on November 12, 2022, we have collectively be humbled by the high praise and international acclaim we receive.

This years jury for the awards was Caro Robertson, Ari Stevens, Julie Stout and Patrick Kennedy who said:

“A dynamic expression of Kupe’s voyaging and navigation, Te Taumata o Kupe Nuku forms a new focal point for the marae of Hokianga hapū Te Māhurehure, and a platform from which to share and project ancient mātauranga (traditional knowledge). TOA Architects worked closely with Te Māhurehure to create a wide-reaching master plan for this complex site, realising a collective vision with Te Taumata o Kupe at its heart. A clear framework for future development has been initiated, including provision for community-focused service providers and a recently completed papakāinga. Te Taumata o Kupe Nuku has significantly enriched the community fabric, honouring its past while shaping its future. This award acknowledges the extraordinary contribution of a design that has grown out of, and for, the community it serves.”

Te Whānau o Waipareira Rōpū Kaumātua chose Te Mahurehure Marae to celebrate their 2024 Christmas lunch, alongside Hoani Waititi kaumātua.

After a delicious lunch they enjoyed presentations including a long service award for Whaea Waki Moses; Marion Tenaia received unexpected recognition for her support for rōpu Chair, Albie Tepania; and there was also a celebrations for Matua Jim Te Wiki’s graduation from his full immersion Rumaki Reo programme.