Ngaaruawaahia – Our Conference Home
WISPC 2026 will be hosted at Tuurangawaewae Marae, the heart of Te Kiingitanga and one of the most significant marae in Aotearoa.
Ngaaruawaahia sits just north of Kirikiriroa (Hamilton), a short drive along the Waikato Expressway, at the meeting point of the Waikato and Waipaa rivers beneath the Hakarimata Ranges. For generations these awa served as vital transport and trading routes for Maaori, and the waters that carried our tuupuna (ancestors) now carry the kaupapa (cause, purpose) of this conference, Waiora Waikato, Healing Waters.
Tuurangawaewae Marae is rarely open to the public, just one day each year, during the annual regatta when waka taua (canoe) parade on the Waikato River. To be welcomed onto this marae as a delegate is a rare privilege, offering an experience of tikanga, reo, and manaakitanga that few ever receive.
The town itself is home to a strong, close-knit community and is connected to Kirikiriroa by the Te Awa River Ride, a scenic cycleway and walkway following the river.
Home of the Kīingitanga
- The Kiingitanga movement was founded in 1858 to unify Maaori under a single sovereign and protect land from colonial encroachment.
- Waikato is the heartland of the Kiingitanga. The first Maaori King, Pootatau Te Wherowhero, was crowned at Ngaaruawaahia and the movement remains based in the region today.
- The surrounding whenua (land) is sacred, with sites like Tuurangawaewae Marae serving as the spiritual and ceremonial home of the Kiingitanga.
Cultural and Environmental Stewardship
- The legacy of leaders like Te Puea Heerangi and Queen Te Atairangikaahu emphasised the importance of kaitiakitanga, the guardianship of the land and waterways.
- Initiatives like Te Parapara Garden and Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park reflect this ethos, blending ecological restoration with cultural education.
