"Thank you for allowing us to share a piece of your culture - this was memorable"
Dr. & Mrs B. Adler Florida, USA
"I found the whole experience quite moving as we'll as educational. I would highly recommend the tour to anyone interested in understanding another culture. This is the type of experience that could lead to world peace!"
Jeri Roberts, California
"This was a special day and we all felt your love of the beautiful land that means so much to your people. Your grandchildren will thank you for your efforts. Thank you for your sharing and your warmth.
Excellent cultural experience provided by sincere Maori descendants. Wonderful! We felt the experience as well as witnessing it. Thank You!"
Chuck and Virginia Petersen
"Well worth going off the well trodden tourist pathways to share a moment on your sacred place. We have come to appreciate through your kindness the beauty of one's connection to the earth and to family - Thank you and we hope to be back"
Bela Maranhas, Rockport, MA USA
"My wife and I had the opportunity to take your tour and visit your home during our recent cruise in February. Papa Robert and Cousin Denise taught us the history and culture of the Maori. What a thrill and a great thank you to all of you who participated in the presentation."
Harry & Sharon Vaughan, Green Valley, AZ USA
“Excellent tour. Thank you for sharing your culture and family with us”
L and K Missouri, USA
“We wanted to say how blessed we were to have you share your culture and ancestral heritage. It was truly a moving experience, and we shall always remember it with reverence. You are special people, and we are fortunate to have shared time with you.”
T.R. and D.J. Illinois, USA
“What an amazing experience you have afforded us. We have learned so much about your culture and traditions in such a short time. Thank you for sharing so much of yourselves, and making us feel so welcome. The amazing landscape of the area just blew us away.”
A.A. Arizona, USA
The founder of Waimarama Maori Tours at Hakikino he doesn’t like to talk about himself. He was the Chairman of the Committee of Management for the owners of the ancestral land, and watches over the Hakikino Nursery. He learned the stories of Waimarama and the traditions, culture and history from his mother, who we all called Auntie Lovey. Robert is a talented artist, raconteur and he designed the company logo.
I like to think I am a pretty knowledgeable Nanny, but like all the family at Hakikino, I learn something new every day-especially when we have visitors from all around the globe. The world is so automated now that to be able to sit and spend time with people from other countries is just awesome. My husband Piri and I have 12 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and 1 cat! I am a Director and the other owner of Waimarama Maori Tours with Robert.
Kia Ora, My name Arapera was given to me by my mother. She named me after my father, Aranui and my Great Grandfather Pera. My family call me Ara. I tell visitors, “my name means the way, the direction and as I am with you all today, it means the Guide”. I see each person as a Taonga or treasure because they each have a rich genealogy and an inner spirit or essence that makes them who they are. I share my love of rongoa or medicinal abilities and knowledge with those in my family and others who seek well being for their physical and spiritual needs. I enjoy meeting and guiding visitors both at Hakikino and Mataruahou (the Napier Hill) at the Hawke’s Bay Museum and Art Gallery where I welcome visitors to a Cultural Discovery tour through stories of cultural and historical significance, viewing treasures of the past and enjoying interactive activities using harakeke or flax.
My husband Ben and I have 9 wonderful children, and 8 gorgeous grandchildren. When I am not at Hakikino, I am a team trainer for the international group Restaurant Brands. I really enjoy meeting guests to our ancestral land and answering questions about our culture, and learning about their history as well. It is such a wonderful feeling to spend a bit of time together and learn from each other. We are blessed to have been given the consent of our elders to open this site up to visitors, as it had been accessible only to family until recently. I do hope you are able to come visit us one day.
I am the proud father of 9 children, yes, that’s right, 9 children. They have given my wife Donna and I 8 wonderful grandchildren. I have worked as a professional travelling musician for 22 years, and more recently taken a break from that to teach music within our local school system. I enjoy working with children of all ages. This is a very exciting time for our family as we have been given the approval and blessings of our elders to share our cultural heritage with guests to Hakikino, Waimarama. I am looking forward to meeting even more visitors to our ancestral home, and sharing our history.
I live in Waimarama and I am interested in the art of traditional tattooing. I spend time with Uncle Robert learning about my ancestors and the history of our people, and I am studying the art of weaponry with John. I have really enjoyed meeting our guests from all over the world, and look forward to meeting more of them in years to come.
I had planned on moving to Australia last year, but got involved with the Hakikino project, and I have enjoyed it so much, I’m still here! Meeting the people who have come to visit our ancestral lands has been just awesome. It is so cool to be able to tell the story of my ancestors and get to answer questions about their travels and lives.
I am 14 years old and currently being educated at Hastings Boys High School, and I am from Waimarama. I enjoy swimming, and I spend a lot of time at my Nan and Poppa’s (Denise and Piri Prentice) house. I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people from around the world at Te Hakakino. It has been an amazing experience.
I grew up spending my summers in Waimarama, and moved here permanently in 1998. I am one of the local care takers of the coastal dune environment, collecting native grass seeds and then planting the native grasses for habitat restoration of the dunes. I am also a keen native bush and tree guy and grow native trees from seed as a hobby. I have been involved with the Hakikino project since Robert asked me to help in 2006. Although I started as the business mentor, I am now the eel specialist.
I am of Polish descent and was born in Paris, France. I moved to Waimarama with my husband Paddy in 1998. Robert asked me to get involved with the Hakikino project as a business mentor. I am now the marketing manager, financial manager, shop keeper, time keeper, and anything else Robert or Denise ask me to do. I am passionate about the people, and the importance of retaining the culture and heritage of the area alive. I believe that with your ancestors land beneath your feet, you remember who you are.
My wife Keita and I have a love for the traditional knowledge of our people. We have taught traditional Maori Dance and song in local grammar, middle and high schools for many years. I have a keen interest in and have studied the art of weaponry and other Maori art forms. I believe that we need to share our history and culture with our own people as well as guests from overseas. In that way, the language, traditions and culture of my people will never die.
My love and passion is traditional Maori Cultural song and dance, our language, and weaving. I have learned about these traditions from my elders since I was a child, and I have passed this knowledge on to our 7 children. My husband John and I work with young Maori people to instill in them the history and customs of our people. I really enjoy sharing these gifts of our ancestors with our guests to Te Hakakino. It is one of the ways to keep our culture and traditions alive.