Who we are and why we are here
Ko wai mātou
Te kaupapa
The unification of wāhine Māori who mahi in the preservation and restoration of whakapapa
At the 2025 Hine e Hine gathering, a decision was made: wāhine Māori working in whakapapa preservation needed a way to stay connected, to grow a shared vision, and to hold space for work that is often done in isolation, often without recognition.
This website is the result of that decision. It is a home for our kōrero, our resources, and our community. It is both public-facing — welcoming anyone who wants to learn — and a dedicated space for wāhine actively working in this area.
"A decision was made to create a method for us to keep in touch and grow our vision for unity, self-determination, and pro-active change."
—From the 2025 Hine e Hine gathering
Our KIWA team are a small group of wāhine toa from across the motu who hold the direction of this space — providing content, clarity, and a commitment to work that is thoughtful, lasting, and rooted in local, regional, national, and global perspectives.
Ko enei o matou pou
These are our pillars
We stay true to this in all that we do…
The ancestral figures who guide our work
Our kaupapa is held by six wāhine atua — each embodying qualities essential to the work of preservation, restoration, and leadership.
Whaitiri
Whaitiri holds the power of thunder and lightning. She reminds us of disruption, truth, and the courage it takes to confront what must change.
Hine-te-iwaiwa
Hine te Iwaiwa holds the realms of creation, growth, and collective wellbeing. She reminds us of the power of wāhine, of nurturing new beginnings, and of the cycles that sustain life.
Hinetūparemaunga
Hinetūpāremaunga holds the strength and stillness of the maunga. She reminds us of endurance, protection, and the power of standing firm.
Hinemanu
.Hinemanu holds the realm of manu and the messages they carry. She reminds us to pay attention to movement, signs, and the stories carried across generations
Hinerauwharangi
Hinerauwharangi holds the realms of light and the space between earth and sky. She reminds us that connection, expression, and the sharing of knowledge allow voices to travel and be heard.Papatūānuku
Papatūānuku is our earth mother. She reminds us that everything begins with the whenua, and that grounding, belonging, and care are essential to wellbeing.
The team behind this space
KIWA is a small group of wāhine toa from across the motu who steward this platform. They bring local, regional, national, and global perspectives — making space for thoughtful, lasting work and ensuring this community stays true to its kaupapa. Their role is not to lead from the front, but to hold the conditions that allow every member to grow and contribute.
"He wahine, he whenua, e ngaro ai te tangata"
A Māori proverb which is often interpreted as meaning ‘By women and land men are lost’, it also refers to the essential nourishing roles that women and land fulfil, without which humanity would be lost. It should be remembered that earth is Papatūānuku, the ancestress of all Māori, and that land is of paramount significance to Māori socially, culturally, spiritually, politically and economically.
– Annie Mikaere, 1994