Mahi wairua

A certificate in marae spiritual practices

Strengthen spiritual practices of your marae

Grow your wairua knowledge and explore Māori spiritual practices with Te Pou Hono ki Wairua. This marae-centred certificate offered by Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, is designed to support the understanding and revitalisation of wairua (spiritual) practices within Māori communities. The course allows tauira to explore and apply mātauranga wairua through tikanga-based learning support guided by their own learned experts.

Whether through karakia, waiata tawhito, or spiritual leadership, this programme offers a pathway to develop your understanding and contribute meaningfully to the spiritual wellbeing of yourself, your whānau or marae.

Why Study Te Pou Hono ki Wairua?

Self-Determined Localised Learning
Be guided by your own mātauranga wairua experts. Learn from your own leaders, in your own spaces, at your own pace, focusing on mahi wairua of significance to your marae or community.

Culturally Grounded Practical Learning
Marae-based learning model grounded in tikanga Māori. Learn skills that can be applied on your marae and in your community.

Cultural Leadership
Build capacity and capability in mahi wairua in your whānau, hapū, iwi or community to support spiritual wellbeing.

What you’ll learn in Te Pou Hono ki Wairua:

• Māori origin stories and belief systems of wairua practices.
• Reflection of karakia, changes in belief systems, and connection to marae communities.
• Explore key people and events in wairua practices and performing waiata/waiata tawhito.
• Planning and leadership of initiatives to build capacity and capability in wairua practices.
• Reflective skills to evaluate and improve your own spiritual practice

Who should apply?

Te Pou Hono programmes are designed for collective learning by groups such as whānau, hapū, marae, iwi, kōhanga reo, kura and other Māori entities.

• This programme is ideal for:
• Whānau, hapū, iwi members involved in spiritual practices with a desire to uplift their marae through mahi wairua
• Marae-based leaders and kaitautoko
• Community members wanting to grow spiritual capability

Te Kaupapa o Te Pou Hono – Strategic Purpose

Te Pou Hono is a collective suite of marae-centred courses designed to support marae, whānau, hapū and iwi to revitalise and strengthen all aspects of Te Ao Māori through the context of their own unique local lenses.

Each Te Pou Hono programme has its own unique theme covering various aspects of marae-centred topics.  

Te Pou Hono is intended for groups, where individuals study collectively, enabling marae to bring together their members from around the country to learn from their own collective knowledge held by whānau, hapū and iwi to ensure knowledge is transferred from one generation to the next.