The Tira hoe waka is a sacred journey of connection and wānanga for tāngata whenua who whakapapa to the Whanganui River and surrounding areas. The journey starts in Taumaranui and winds through 224km of beautiful native bush and scenery, before arriving in Whanganui where the river meets to the ocean. This annual hui runs from early to mid January and takes approximately 14-17 days to complete, including a few rest days. There is a mixture of camping and marae stay on this journey, with the occasional hut or two.
The Tira hoe waka is connected to the vitality of the river and it's people, for many of whom including myself, has provided an opportunity of reconnection. It offers an immersive space to learn history and knowledge, interact with our leaders and elders, explore new ideas and guide positive growth in our youth. It is a place where we come together to live in the way of our ancestors, communally, working together to achieve our aspirations.
The biggest impact of the Tira hoe waka for me is it's a place where our cultural practices and values are active everyday. It is an environment that is different from my social norm, where I often have feelings of displacement. This is a place where I feel more myself, natural and comfortable, leading me to believe that it's a feeling I should always been having. The Tira Hoe Waka has reconnected my heart to the river and has given me strength with confidence in my direction.
I have completed the Tira Hoe Waka three times, with my fourth time being cut short due to injury.
For those who want to respectfully learn more about Iwi and Hapū of Whanganui and our connection to the river please visit:
