A Place of Deep Indigenous Connection
Claudelands stands on land with long-standing significance for mana whenua. Originally known as Te Papanui, the area was once used as a traditional bird-snaring ground and was inhabited by the hapū of Ngāti Wairere.
One of the wāhi tapu (sacred places) nearby is Miropiko Pā, located along River Road. This site serves as a visible link to the pre-European Māori presence in the area, and today it is preserved as a reserve.
When a Conference like the World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference 2026 uses Claudelands as its venue, you are gathering on land that resonates with Indigenous history, culture and identity. This means:
Your presence acknowledges and honours the place of mana whenua and the enduring connections of Indigenous peoples to the land.
The venue itself becomes more than a “Conference Centre”, it becomes a site of cultural significance, a bridge between past and present, and a place where Indigenous voices, stories and knowledge are grounded.
It offers an opportunity to weave the conference kaupapa (purpose) of suicide prevention and wellbeing into the broader context of connection to land, whakapapa (genealogy), environment and community.