Te Noho Tā Māua | Rereata Makiha
Rereata Makiha joined us as Pū Kōrero at the Toi Tangata Hui ā-Tau 2026. Drawing on the practices of our tūpuna, Matua Rereata’s kōrero reflects on journeys of purpose, sacrifice, discipline, and collective responsibility, exploring the tikanga of Te Noho Tāmaua - the practice of sitting steadfast with intention, aroha and karakia to enhance wellbeing of others.
He reminds us that while some carry the burden of travelling forward, others carry the equally important responsibility of holding the ahi kā, maintaining the kaupapa, and awaiting the safe arrival of those they support.
Te Noho Tā Māua draws on traditional practices associated with travel, sacrifice, and collective responsibility. Rereata reflects on how our tūpuna would often fast while journeying, carrying themselves with discipline and remaining in a state of tapu until they had safely reached their destination. This practice recognised that some journeys require endurance, patience, and an unwavering commitment to the kaupapa ahead.
Equally important, however, were those who remained behind. The hau kāinga carried their own responsibility, waiting in anticipation for word that their people had arrived safely. Their role reminds us that every journey is collective; while some travel the path, others hold the ahi kā, maintain the kaupapa, and await the safe return or arrival of those they support. Success was never the achievement of an individual alone, but of the wider collective who carried the burden together.
Within the context of He Waewae Taumaha, He Kiri Mākū, Rereata invites us to consider how mātauranga Māori and kōrero tuku iho can help us navigate the weight of contemporary challenges. Whether we are the travellers moving through uncertainty or the hau kāinga supporting from behind, we are reminded to remain grounded in our mātāpono, disciplined in our actions, and tūturu in our commitment to one another.
The kōrero speaks to the reality that difficult journeys are rarely walked alone. They require sacrifice, trust, and whakapono in both ourselves and our people. By drawing strength from the wisdom of our tūpuna, we can move with purpose through hardship, knowing that every challenge, no matter how heavy, carries within it the possibility of growth, transformation, and renewal.
Rereata Mākiha is a highly respected cultural leader, educator, broadcaster, environmental practitioner, and holder of ancestral knowledge. He has spent decades walking alongside communities, helping reconnect people to the wisdom of our tūpuna and the rhythms of the natural world.
