Our free, 2-day wānanga prepares whānau for labour, birthing and parenting, delivering antenatal education grounded in tikanga and mātauranga Māori, including Māori birthing practices.

It is held at various locations around Taranaki.

Over the 2-days we’ll cover the following topics:

→ Traditional Māori Birthing

→ He Rongoā Whakawhānau (Natural therapies)

→ Birth Physiology

→ Immunisations

→ Tui Ora - Well Child Provider

→ Make your own Ipu Whenua (clay placenta vessel)

→ Whenua ki te Whenua

→ Safe Sleep

→ Tiaki Ūkaipō, Breastfeeding support

→ Mana Tane, support for pāpā

→ Dental Health

→ Healthy Homes, WISE Charitable trust

→ Pain Relief & Interventions

→ Baby Checks

→ Fourth Trimester

→ Make your own whītau muka

Please note:

• Both days are 9am-4pm, please arrive at 8.45am on Saturday in time for powhiri.

• A nourishing morning tea and lunch are provided. Reach out if you have any dietary requirements.

• Wear clothes that are loose and comfy that you don’t mind getting dirty (clay can be messy!)

• To make the muka ties, you need to use your bare legs to roll the fibres - so a skirt/dress or loose pants should be worn.

• Wahakura embody the Māori concept of whakapapa as ‘he taonga tuku iho’ – a gift passed down from our ancestors. They are a symbol of Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), and a practical and safe place for pēpē to sleep.

  As such, we have made the decision to begin running Wahakura Wānanga throughout the year to encourage whānau to make their own. The process of using your hands to weave, working with harakeke towards creating a safe sleeping space for our taonga can be a deeply beneficial and healing experience for whānau preparing to welcome new life.

  We will no longer be offering wahakura out to every whānau that attend Hapū Wānanga and would like to encourage whānau to attend a wahakura wānanga instead to make their own. However, if you do not have access to a safe sleep space for your pēpē then please let us know so we can provide you with one.

• We highly encourage that your partner (or at least 1 support person) attend with you. We make sure to include and involve partners in Hapū wānanga as they are just as important in the pregnancy/birth and raising your pēpē. Some partners have felt nervous or shy about coming but we're so glad they did end up coming as they enjoyed it so much.

• While we do allow children to attend, it is advised you arrange someone to care for your tamariki whether at home or at the wānanga. This is specifically so that you can concentrate on the learning and activities we deliver at wānanga. We don't want you to miss out because you are too focused on chasing a toddler around! if you have any queries about this, let us know.

• We will be posting photos from the wānanga, please let us know if you would prefer not to have your photo taken.

• Make sure you like our Facebook and Instagram pages if you haven't already.