About

Mission

“Hei whakapakari I te oranga motuhake o ngā uki o Te Aroha mā te tino rangatiratanga, hei taonga tuku iho ki ngā tipuranga e haere ake nei”

To enhance the uniqueness of Te Aroha, through self-governance and self-determination, to serve as examples for our future generations.

Our location

Te Aroha Pā is located in Kai iwi, Whanganui and is within the tribal boundary of Ngā Rauru Kiitahi, Aotea. The marae sits in the southern pahuki of Ngā Rauru Kii Tahi neighbouring Awhakaueroa (Kai Iwi Marae) and Taipake Marae.

Approximately 15 kilometres from the city centre of Whanganui, 7 kilometres from Mowhanau Beach. Te Aroha Pā is nestled in amongst the small settlement of Kai Iwi surrounded by the local primary school, farmers and native bush reserves. It has a relaxed atmosphere where you get to enjoy its natural habitat.

Our History

Morvin Simon’s book “Taku Whare E” described Te Aroha Pa as “the hub of the Te Māramatanga Christian Society”, co-founded by Ngāpiki Waaka Hakaraia & Hoani Hakaraia in the early 1920’s. Ngāpiki,affectionately remembered as Nanny Ngāpiki, was the middle child of 3 sisters Tutira Waaka Hakaraia and Pare Waaka Hakaraia born to Waaka Hakaraia and Ngāpiki Reweti Paponga.

Kuia Ngāpiki was a Christian Faith healer – one of many taonga she possessed according to her whānau and followers. She also shared a close bond (through whakapapa respectively), to other Māori prophets and foreseers of the time, such as Mere Rikiriki, Tahupōotiki Wiremu Rātana and Arekahānara Piripi o Mana Ariki.

After settling in various places along the coast between Ngāti Apa and Ngā Rauru Kiitahi, Nanny Ngāpiki retired to Kai Iwi to further develop the Māramatanga movement. Historians illustrate that the marae including the area of Kai Iwi, was once a major focal point for followers and visitors alike during the 1940’s, from as far north as Hokinga. This was a time at which the Te Māramatanga Christian Society was thriving at its peak.
Well into her 50’s at the time of moving to Kai Iwi the years slowly but surely began to take their toll on Kuia Ngāpiki. Her health and her abilities to heal steadily declined. Unfortunately, so too did the immense following of the Māramatanga movement, and in 1947, the Te Māramatanga Christian Society closed its doors at Te Aroha Pā.

What remained after Kuia Ngāpiki’s passing was her whānau. Adoption or ‘whāngai’ was typical of Māori custom at that time and Kuia Ngāpiki had fostered and nurtured many mokopuna and young adults during her lifetime. Including Isobel Tioro daughter of Tutira Waaka Hakaraia, Johannes son of Pare Waaka Hakaraia and Tui Hakaraia, Frank Hakaraia and Te Aroha Hakaraia, daughter of Isobel.

Kuia Isobel Tioro and her whanau are acknowledged as the Ahi Kaa and Kaitiaki of Te Aroha Pa having lived on the Marae reservation all her life. In 1992, life sprung forth once more onto the Marae, with the establishment of Te Aroha Pā Kōhanga Reo, as endorsed by the late Te Arikinui, Te Atairangikaahu – patron of the Kōhanga Reo movement.