PĀNUI
NEWS
Matariki: Reflecting on the Past, Preparing for the Future of Hauora
16 / 06 / 2025
As Matariki rises once again, we take this sacred time to pause, reflect, and reset. It’s a moment to honour those who’ve passed, ngā whetūrangi - and to look forward with intention, purpose, and collective kaha.
Celebrating Matariki at He Waka Tapu
At He Waka Tapu, Matariki reminds us of our deep connection to the taiao and the mātauranga Māori that continues to guide our understanding of wellbeing. Just as our tūpuna looked to the stars to track time, harvests, and seasons of change, we look to this moment to realign our kaupapa with the evolving needs of our people - mō tātou, ā, mō ngā uri ā muri ake nei.
The stars remind us that everything is connected. Our wellbeing is woven through whakapapa, wairua, whānau, and whenua. As the stars reappear in the midwinter sky, they call us to reflect - not only on who we’ve lost, but on who we are becoming.
We know the health challenges facing our hapori:
Chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and addictions that continue to impact whānau intergenerationally
A system that often feels disconnected from the realities of our communities
Gaps in service across rural and provincial areas
A growing kaumātua population needing targeted awhi and support
Inequities for Māori and Pasifika that have never been ours to carry, but which persist.
"Matariki is also a time of renewal. A time to wānanga. A time to rest, to plan, and to dream. It invites us to imagine what a truly responsive, inclusive and empowering health system could look like, and to start building it now"
At He Waka Tapu, we believe the future of hauora isn't just clinical, it's cultural. It's collaborative. It's built from the ground up with whānau at the centre. Whether it’s through harm reduction, mental health support, addiction recovery, whānau ora services or kaupapa Māori programmes, our mission remains the same: uplift the mauri of our people.
We also acknowledge the importance of workforce. If we are to train the next generation of hauora leaders, they need more than technical knowledge, they need mātauranga, empathy, connection and lived experience. They need to be grounded in community, able to navigate across systems, and ready to challenge the status quo.
So as we enter this new year under the stars of Matariki, let us hold close the kaupapa that binds us. Let us listen to the kōrero of our people, be guided by the tohu around us, and make bold moves together.
Matariki calls us to remember. Matariki calls us to act. Matariki calls us to dream forward, with each other, for each other.
Tihei mauriora.
