Carrying the Flame of Te Ahi Kaiata: Reflections from Toi Tangata Hui-ā-Tau 2025

Reflections by Jade Kameta

He Oranga Mokopuna, He Oranga Whānau, Taurikura Ki Te Ao
The wellbeing of our mokopuna nurtures the wellbeing of our whānau, bringing flourishing to the world.

The Toi Tangata Hui-ā-Tau 2025 brought together champions of kaupapa Māori from across Aotearoa, united under the theme Te Ahi Kaiata — the flame that consumes the morning. This flame symbolises the warmth of ancestral presence, the spark of innovation, and the power of collective momentum to shape our future.

For Healthy Families East Cape, Te Ahi Kaiata was not just a theme — it was something we carried into the room with us. We were proud to step from the floor to the stage and present Taurikura, a kaupapa grounded in mātauranga Māori, maramataka, and the transformative power of wai.

More than a swimming programme, Taurikura is about reimagining access to wai and hauora through a Te Ao Māori lens. It’s about reconnecting whānau to the taiao, strengthening the bond between pēpi and their environment, and restoring traditional relationships with water as a source of healing, confidence, and belonging. Our workshop invited participants into that world — weaving movement, kōrero tuku iho, and cultural connection into an experience that was as grounding as it was uplifting.

“Toi Tangata Hui ā-Tau 2025 was everything I expected — and so much more. I always leave feeling inspired, but this year hit different. I’m truly grateful for the strong relationships I continue to grow, and for the new connections made with champions from across the motu who are all pushing toward a similar vision. More than anything, I’m incredibly proud of how our team presented. Taurikura ki te ao.” Jade Kameta, Rautaki Māori, Healthy Families East Cape

We also want to acknowledge the incredible keynote speakers who filled the whare with insight, passion, and wairua — each voice lighting a different part of Te Ahi Kaiata. The diverse range of workshops, including Mau Rākau, Tāne Ora, Kai Māori, Kori, and Tākaro, reflected the strength and depth of kaupapa Māori wellbeing in action. It was an honour to be part of a space that not only informed but truly transformed.

The response to our presentation was humbling and affirming. Attendees praised the strength of our team, the cultural grounding of our kaupapa, and the energy we brought to the space. One participant said presentations like ours are “rarely seen at symposiums” — a powerful reminder that when we stand in our truth, guided by tikanga, we light the path for others.

We left the hui with new sparks ignited. Influential leaders in the room saw the potential of Taurikura to grow, and we’ve since been invited to present on national and international stages. It’s clear this kaupapa resonates deeply, because it's about more than physical activity. It’s about reclaiming mātauranga, creating new systems of wellbeing, and restoring our relationship with wai as a living, breathing part of our oranga.

The hui also gave us space to reflect. We saw opportunities to improve — from refining delivery and rotating presentation roles, to creating more time for reflection and slowing down parts of our kōrero. We also recognised where we need to keep nurturing the flame — deepening maramataka content, increasing father participation, and working more closely with kura kaupapa.

Our partnerships continue to be the kindling that keeps this kaupapa burning. Relationships like the one with Comet Swimming Club are helping unlock long-term change, supporting leadership pathways and building systems that work for whānau, not against them.

Toi Tangata reminded us that when Māori come together, guided by kaupapa, whanaungatanga, and shared vision, the flame burns brighter. We return home inspired, connected, and more committed than ever to carrying Te Ahi Kaiata forward — for our mokopuna, our whānau, and the world we are reimagining together.

He mihi tēnei nui ki ā Toi Tangata, for creating and holding this powerful space for kaupapa Māori to thrive. Your leadership continues to light fires across the motu.

He mihi anō hoki ki te mana whenua, me te ahi kā, ā Waiwhetū Marae, Te Āti Awa for your manaakitanga, your aroha and for welcoming us so warmly into your whenua taurikura.