Nau mai, welcome.
Who we are.
Te Hā o Maru – Mana Whenua Services for the Moeraki Takiwā
Te Hā o Maru is the Kāi Tahu Mana Whenua service for the takiwā o Moeraki (Waitaki District). We deliver a wide range of Kaupapa Māori Hauora, Social, Wellbeing, and Education services to our communities, from the Waitaki River in the north, to the Waihemo (Shag) River in the south, and inland to Te Manahuna, Takapō, and surrounding areas.
We are guided by the vision of Moeraki — grounded in whakapapa, connected to the whenua, and committed to the wellbeing of our people.
Our Waka Framework
At Te Hā o Maru, our work is guided by a unique and deeply rooted kaupapa Māori framework known as the Waka Hourua. This framework is both a reflection of who we are and a practical model for how we deliver services to our whānau and hapori across the Moeraki and surrounding Takiwā.
The Waka Hourua – Our Foundation
The Waka Hourua is a double-hulled ocean voyaging canoe. It represents the collaborative partnership between Te Rūnanga o Moeraki and Te Hā o Maru. These two hulls move in unity, guided by shared vision, values, and responsibilities as mana whenua of the takiwā.
Spanning the two takere (hulls) are the papa — the deck that connect and stabilise the waka. This papa represent the Moeraki whānui and our mahuhiri: the people, the whenua, the whakapapa that bind us. They ensure we remain grounded in our tūrakawaewae, and always navigate in a way that reflects the mana and mauri of Moeraki.
Aboard our waka are the kaumoana — our kaimahi, manuhiri, and the taoka we carry — all moving forward together. Our waka is both a vessel of service and a symbol of our enduring commitment to care, connection, and collective wellbeing.
The Mōkihi – Our Service Arms
From the Waka Hourua, smaller waka flow outward — these are the Mōkihi. Traditionally, mōkihi are lightweight rafts made out of raupō used to transport kai and taoka along the braided rivers of Te Waipounamu. In our modern framework, each Mōkihi represents a dedicated service arm, carefully designed to carry specific supports and resources to our whānau.
How Our Services Work Together
At Te Hā o Maru, each Mōkihi plays a distinct role, but none operate in isolation. Our model is fully integrated, allowing whānau to move easily between services as their needs evolve. A whānau accessing Te Whare Koiora for health support may also be connected with Te Mōkihi Whānau for social advocacy, or Te Mōkihi Mātauraka for education support.
All pathways are coordinated, culturally grounded, and manuhiri-led, ensuring that every person feels seen, heard, and valued. It is through this unified Waka Framework that we support the holistic wellbeing of our takiwā — navigating together, guided by whakapapa, and always moving forward as one.
