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25 November 2023By Dan Burgess-Milne Hello Wangapeka Community Apologies for a long delay between Kumanus. There was a little miscommunication, as I was waiting on some information that had already gone out. This Kumanu will cover from September until now (November). On the weekend of September 1–3 we had our BOT weekend at Wangapeka. This... -
1 September 2023Weaving Tiwaiwaka-( healing the mauri of the whenua); Te Ao Maori; and Buddha Dharma. Was it really only a weekend? The weka says “Oi, Oi, Oi” Eyes shut, face down- can’t be found anywhere… Seeing for the first time, Hearing as a small child, as a teen, as a caretaker, a retreatant….. Remembering this place as... -
1 September 2023Ka ora te whenua, Ka ora te tangata When the land is well the people will be well, is a central theme to the Tiwaiwaka principles that streams through Pā Ropata, Rob McGowan. In July we spent a weekend with an almost full house of people, for the first time without... -
1 September 2023Earlier in August, I had what seemed to be a serendipitous opportunity to attend the One Breath retreat at Wangapeka. I had been stuck between three delicious bite-sized weekend retreats that all called to me in different ways, yet when circumstances dictated which was to be the one for me,... -
1 September 2023Namaste. I would like to tell a short story: It was sometime in the late 1980’s when I held the first and sole Nelson position of “Community Development person” with the Dept of Internal Affairs, Community Development, a major aspect of that role was to administer the Lottery Grants board funding across... -
1 September 2023An Idea for the Wangapeka Community: Don’t know about you but as I age I can see a time when I can’t drag that gas bottle across the paddock any longer and it is getting harder to dig over the garden. Having witnessed my mum (97) living her last years in... -
1 September 2023Kia ora from the Wangapeka, As I write the early morning sun streams a brief misty trail through the green and falls golden into the office. This is nice. The heater under the desk is not warming my legs – note to self – check the settings when starting work. There’s more... -
17 August 2023By Dan Burgess-Milne Following August 2023 Board Meeting Hello Wangapeka community. This is the first Kumanu written by Dan in my role as board liaison for the Comms team. Elli did a wonderful job of this during her time on the board, and I’ll do my best to follow on with the...
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12 August 2023The Wangapeka Centre would like to invite you to our Open Day on Sunday September 10th 2023 from 9am to 4pm. Everybody is welcome. Bring friends, family, and a picnic lunch. This year the Open Day will be informal. Come up to walk the tracks and have a cup of tea and... -
4 August 2023By Dave Pooch Following July 2023 Board Meeting What’s been happening We’ve got snow on Jones Ridge today and it looks calm. We had our AGM in July where we added two new board members and parted ways with two long-standing members. The “Who pays what” matrix, that we talked about in the... -
13 June 2023Kumanu May 2023 ( following Board meeting of 18 May 2023 ) What’s been happening It was a quieter month for the Board as a whole. We’re grappling with some gnarly issues but some useful things have been finalised. One of these was the arrangement for Georgia Borwick to stay at the Centre while...
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7 June 2023Sunday 23rd July Notice of AGM The Wangapeka Educational Trust will hold its Annual General Meeting at 9.30am on Sunday the 23rd of July 2023. The meeting will be in the main hall at the Centre. The AGM will receive reports from the Board and its sub-committees, the financial statements for the previous... -
22 April 2023Tēnā tātou katoa, greetings to you all, friends of the Wangapeka Educational Trust near and far! This is the last Kumanu I’m helping to co-author (thanks also to Dave Pooch!) as I step down from my role on the Board. It’s been an honour to write these reports as one...
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27 February 2023Tēnā koutou katoa, apologies for the slowing of regular Kumanu over these summer months. We have been meeting as usual, but my writing has not kept up as I’ve found myself swamped by life’s demands. However, here is a summer Kumanu for you, sent with much appreciation, particularly for those...
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27 February 2023I sit here from my computer in Hawkes Bay, amidst the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle, thinking how lucky I am to have found a refuge. A refuge that I can come to whenever I please, a refuge that is always there with warm welcoming arms, and a refuge that safeguards... -
27 February 2023Retreat reflections from Ruth Lumsden and Bridget Musters Ruth Lumsden A profound retreat for me. And a joy to be back at the Wangapeka, my spiritual turangawaewae. I felt supported in my individual work by my fellow retreatants, and I welcomed the challenges that Bonni guided us through with her sharp, sparkling wit and wisdom. Wonderful to... -
27 February 2023Stardust, Starlight and a very special blessing of babes! On a stunning, sunny Sunday morning as the Stardust, Starlight retreat was settling in, the group of retreatants gathered in a circle in the Main Hall for a very unique and powerful experience. Holding a white cord of protection and blessing, the... -
10 January 2023Kia ora tātou, writing to you from wet and thunderous Waikanae, hoping you are well and happy as we approach the longest day of the year. The combination of summer solstice and Christmas makes for a busy, full, festive energy … we hope you are riding the activity of the...
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10 January 2023The site was blessed Saturday January 7th. Members of the Board of Trustees, current caretakers, local sangha, and many donors were in attendance. It was beautiful. We managed to be rain-free. Thank You to Bonni Ross and Matthew Eades for the blessing ceremony. Also, donations have increased by $20,000. The total... -
15 November 2022Kia ora koutou, we trust this Kumanu Report finds you well and happy. This month the Board met on site at the Wangapeka, sharing a lovely weekend of cakes, kōrero and warm spring rains. It was a good opportunity to connect with both Jacinta and Tracy as the two...
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3 November 2022I arrived later than planned but it was a wonderful relief to be welcomed at the gates of the Wangapeka centre by a profusion of pale lemon rhododendron flowers. “You have arrived”. Yay. Phew. Breathe. Smile. Two caretakers arrived shortly afterwards: Jacinta, getting ready to leave, and Tracy settling into... -
3 November 2022Our Differences Are Our Strengths – Mitzi Borren It was by a stroke of synchronicity that my first stay at the Wangapeka was spent immersed in the wisdom and teachings of Rob McGowan. As a student on several of Rob’s rongoā māori wananga I was familiar with his captivating blend of... -
3 November 2022Reflections on Kaitiakitanga weekend with Pā Ropata, by Elli Yates Arriving at the Centre for the weekend I felt a new type of anticipation rising. Knowing that we were hosting one of Aotearoa’s leading rongoā experts, I felt excited to welcome him and in doing so unite with others in the... -
20 October 2022By Elli Yates October 17, 2022 Tēnā koutou katoa, I am writing to you from windy Parapara in Mōhua (Golden Bay), where spring announces itself in massive gusts of warm(er) wind. I trust you are able to find peace throughout these windy weeks as the days lengthen and heat up. It has...
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7 September 2022Kia ora e te whānau, springtime greetings to you all! Sending out acknowledgements to you near and far at this changeable time – time of wind, frost, heat and early growth – as the first shoots of sleeping plants begin to show themselves through...
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17 August 2022Full text below and download pdf here Year of Service – What we discussed at the AGM weekend The Year of Service (YOS) proposal was a major topic of discussion at the AGM weekend. The proposal had been prepared by a group (Chani Grieve, Lily Redgrave, Jane Hobday, Dan Burgess-Milne, and Georgia... -
17 August 2022Lily Redgrave and Chris Petzold Lily Redgrave The last weekend of July always feels special, the longest day has been, there are a few more frosts to look forward to and spring finally feels close. During the last weekend of July this year a few of us gathered at the centre for...