During Matariki, the Maaori New Year, local hapu Te Ahiwaru launched the social enterprise Te Ihu o Mataoho tours on their whenua at Ihumaatao.
The educational tours and workshops aim to strengthen their connection as ahi kaa to the whenua, while sharing aspects of their rich and intimate history with visitors to Ihumaatao.
Using Indigenous creativity, storytelling and experiential design, Te Ihu o Mataoho tours offer a host of unique experiences for all ages and abilities.
Through interactive and engaging educational tours and workshops its offerIng aligns to the Aotearoa curriculum while also encouraging communities to better understand our unique and endemic landscapes.
Leilani Tawha, Manager of Te Ihu o Mataoho Tours, is hopeful that the tours can make an impact locally and on a global scale.
“It is an exciting step forward for Te Ahiwaru to launch Te Ihu o Mataoho Tours, especially as we look ahead to how our local schools are implementing the new Aotearoa Histories Curriculum and how our unique offering can support those educational outcomes.
"Our whaanau have welcomed thousands of students, community, international visitors and corporate groups to Ihumaatao over the years, and now we get to formalise that with this social enterprise.
"Visitors will get to experience our important history and culture alongside more recent environmental and social justice initiatives, all led by ahi kaa.
"It is such meaningful mahi and we can’t wait to share it with more of our community.”
For more information, and to book a tour, head to www.teihuomataoho.com
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