Te Tira Hoe 2025 marked a historic moment for the three iwi of Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara, and Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whāoa. Guided and hosted by TARIT, this year’s haerenga was only the second Tira Hoe ever held — following the inaugural journey in 2021 — and its success has strengthened hopes that the kaupapa will evolve into a bi-annual event for the three tribes.
Over four days, the ope travelled the length of key sections of te Awa o Waikato, learning, paddling, and living together in a way that brought deep whanaungatanga and renewed connection to the river and its stories.Te Tira Hoe 2025 marked a significant moment of reconnection for the three hapū of Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao, and Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whāoa. Guided and hosted by Te Arawa River Iwi Trust (TARIT), the four-day haerenga followed the course of te Awa o Waikato, from its headwaters at Waikato-iti through to the river mouth at Port Waikato, before returning home to Te Arawa. It was only the second Tira Hoe ever held, following the inaugural journey in 2021, reinforcing the aspiration that this kaupapa will continue as a regular expression of inter-hapū connection and collective responsibility to the awa
For Nuki Nicholson, Environment Manager Te Arawa River Iwi Trust, the kaupapa was clear from the outset, “The purpose of Te Tira Hoe is to reconnect our three hapū — Ngāti Kea Ngāti Tuara, Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao and Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whāoa — and how they belong.”
That reconnection unfolded day by day, beginning with a whakatau at Tarewa Marae before the ope travelled to Waikato-iti, where they were welcomed by Ngāti Hikairo. From there, participants paddled sections of the awa and lakes, moving through Taupō, Orākei Kōrako, Lake Arapuni, Karāpiro, Tūrangawaewae and Hopuhopu, and staying at marae along the way including Ōhāki, Pōhara and Waimahana. Each stop offered kōrero tuku iho, shared histories, and opportunities to deepen understanding of the awa and the many iwi and hapū it sustains.
For many, Te Tira Hoe was also a deeply personal journey. Te Rina West, paddling on a waka tētē for the first time, spoke honestly about the nerves she carried into the experience. “For me personally this is my first time doing anything like this — this is my first time on a waka tētē. I was actually really, really anxious… but we were in safe hands with all of our crew. The people on board were amazing and we were just so, so fortunate to be looked after the way that we have.”
That sense of care and manaakitanga was echoed by Arohanui West, who was drawn to the haerenga to better understand her connection to the Waikato Awa, “I wanted to explore our hononga to Waikato Awa, that’s why I was keen to take up this opportunity. We have been so spoilt with the manaakitanga — staying at Pōhara Marae in Waikato-Tainui and also staying at Waimahana as part of Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whāoa. We’ve been able to build strong connections i waenganui i a tātou, and we’ve had the most reka kai.”
For others, the journey represented a return home. When the ope arrived in Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whāoa, Georgia Hurihanganui shared how moving it was to be able to connect with her marae for the first time. “One of the most special moments for me was arriving at Ngāti Tahu Ngāti Whāoa. Because I am a Hurihanganui, I had never been to our marae there before. Seeing our name alongside the wharenui was incredibly beautiful. The people there were my relatives — it truly felt like coming home.”
Along the awa, participants were also encouraged to think about the many tributaries, places, and relationships that feed into Waikato. Materoa Stevens-Kameta reflected on these layered connections – “I learned about the many connections that exist along the Waikato River. There are many waterways that feed into that river — Pōkaitū is a connection. Ōrākei Kōrako is a connection. Pūkete is a connection.”
As Te Tira Hoe drew to a close with a final gathering at Te Puia, those reflections carried forward into whakaaro for whānau at home.
“Something I’ll take back to my whānau is — if you’re signing up then definitely stick to it. It’s definitely worth it. We were privileged to be a part of that kaupapa.”
Te Tira Hoe 2025 was more than a physical journey down the river. It was a collective act of remembering, reconnecting, and reaffirming relationships — to each other, to the awa, and to the shared responsibilities that flow from whakapapa
