Toiora Hawira: Whakatere | Nōna Te Ao Puanga Talks Series

Join us for a powerful kōrero with Toiora Hawira, a navigator whose journey has been shaped by the rhythms of Te Awa Tupua (the Whanganui River) and the knowledge of his tūpuna. From paddling the awa as a child to voyaging across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa (the Pacific Ocean), his experience is grounded in mātauranga passed down through generations and strengthened through real journeys at sea. Toiora will share how navigators read the stars, ocean swells, and seasonal markers like Puanga to find direction and mark time. He’ll also speak to the ongoing revival of traditional navigation, including waka hourua journeys that continue to reconnect people across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa. This is a rare chance to hear directly from someone living and practicing this knowledge today.
These events are always popular - please remember to book through the Humanitix link on this page to avoid disappointment at the door!

This event is part of the Nōna Te Ao Puanga Talks Series which runs over the Puanga 2026 season from 17 June - 22nd July, so please look out for our other events!

Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere. Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga, nōnā te ao.

The bird who feasts on the miro berry, theirs is the forest. The bird who feasts on knowledge, theirs is the world.