Aotearoa · New Zealand
The earth remembers who you are.
Te Wairua Experiences
Four pathways. Five elements. One source.
Wai — Water
Deep nature retreats combined with sacred pilgrimages across Aotearoa and other world destinations.
Explore pilgrimages & retreats“Kaue e kōrero i te Awa e kōrero ki te Awa”
Don't talk about the river — talk to the river.
The first doorway — through Ahi
Our journeys begin here, on Te Motu-arai-roa — Waiheke Island.
Explore the journeyAbout us
Te Wairua brings together cultural journeys, retreats, wellbeing and creative work, rooted in connection with land, water and the elements.
We invite people to slow down, share stories and spend time with the places and people they encounter. There is room to be curious, to ask questions and to discover what connection means for you.
Craniosacral & Biodynamic Practitioner
Ines brings more than two decades of experience in holistic health, shaped by extensive training in Germany across craniosacral therapy, biodynamic practice, osteopathy, paediatric osteopathy and naturopathy.
Her work begins with listening — not simply to symptoms, but to the quieter intelligence of the whole person. With a particular affinity for women, children and infants, her approach combines clinical depth with unusual gentleness, patience and presence.
Now based on Waiheke Island, Ines brings another dimension to Te Wairua: a way of working with the body that is both grounded and deeply attentive.
Where others may begin with what needs fixing, Ines begins by listening for what is already trying to return to balance.
Healing isn’t forced; it is invited.
Filmmaker · Author · Former Clinical Psychologist · Māori Healing Practitioner
Paora Te Oti Takarangi Joseph is a Māori filmmaker, author, former clinical psychologist and healing practitioner whose work has long explored the relationship between consciousness, ancestral knowledge, healing and the natural world.
His journey has moved through psychology, Māori cultural knowledge, contemplative traditions and filmmaking — disciplines that appear different on the surface, yet repeatedly return him to the same questions: how we understand ourselves, how we carry inherited experience, and how relationship with whenua, whakapapa and the living world can restore balance.
His films have explored cultural identity, historical trauma, peace, social justice and transformation. His current work, including Earth Mirrors, continues that inquiry through Māori cosmology, the Five Elements and the nature of awareness.
At Te Wairua, Paora brings these strands together not as theory, but as lived experience — through story, encounter, cultural connection and place.
Discover Paora’s storyA journey of memory, following Parihaka children as they trace the footsteps of their ancestors.
An exploration of the relationship between Whanganui iwi and their ancestral river.
A journey with families affected by suicide, opening space for testimony, dialogue and understanding.
Director: Paora Te Oti Takarangi Joseph. All three films appear in the New Zealand International Film Festival archive.
Explore Paora’s filmsOur mission
Through our journeys and creative work, we invite a deeper relationship with land, water, culture and one another. We make space to listen, learn and reconnect with the world around us.
Guest voices
Summaries of guest reviews from earlier Waiheke cultural tours with Paora.
James describes how Paora listened to what mattered to him and his wife, then shaped their day around Māori history and culture. Personal stories, a traditional greeting and visits to significant places made the experience especially meaningful.
Susan appreciated Paora’s kindness, knowledge and company. The experience sparked an interest in Māori culture that continued the next day, when she visited Auckland Museum and Auckland Art Gallery to learn more.
Toni thanks Paora and Maree for their welcome and the opportunity to learn about Māori culture and history. Sharing the day with fellow travellers added to an experience she remembered warmly and hoped to return to.
Discover our Waiheke journeys and find an experience that speaks to you.
Explore Waiheke journeysThe journey continues
