Tō Mātau Kōrero
Kurawaka Limited is an established Māori-owned and operated business that has been founded in cultural acquisition of knowledge and practice through focusing primarily on the re-activation of the prowess and leadership of te mana o te wahine. Kurawaka is well versed in working alongside our wāhine Māori, with a high level of proficiency in carrying the whānau legacy initiated by Te Raina Ferris. For 25 years plus, our whānau have been dedicated to promoting and delivering kaupapa Māori programmes primarily to Māori women through te reo karanga, with an aim of uplifting and empowering each and every wāhine who come to join us.
Our base is the Kurawaka Retreat Centre, the home of Raina and Tākuta Ferris, this is our Marae, nestled in the homelands of Ngāti Kere, Pōrangahau in Ngāti Kahungunu. It is a beacon of cultural preservation with a purpose to reawaken, educate, realign and empower. It is an āhuru mōwai where the essence of tikanga Māori can flourish. At Kurawaka and in our whare Taurangatira, the wairua of the land and the wisdom of the tīpuna converge, creating a nurturing environment for learning and growth. Manuhiri to Kurawaka are invited to experience the authentic essence of tikanga Māori and participate in meaningful wānanga that allows all to open to deep mātauranga that is disseminated.
Our wānanga not only provide a safe space for reflection and healing but also serve as a platform for the transmission of indigenous knowledge to future generations. In this sacred space the whānau is pivotal, and the values of wairuatanga, manaakitanga, pukengatanga, ūkaipōtanga and rangatiratanga are woven into every aspect of life, of wānanga, of oranga. Predominantly since 2014, Kurawaka Retreat Centre and now Kurawaka Limited have positively impacted the lives of countless wāhine Māori. We teach mainly through the artform of karanga, a role that is paramount in our Māori worldview. Karanga carries immense roles and responsibilities that we strive to activate through our teachings. Through our wānanga, we have seen a collective of wāhine Māori transform into confident, empowered wāhine who are encouraged to stand taller, ready to contribute more to their communities, work, whānau, hapū, iwi knowing the value of who we are.
The wānanga we offer are primarily focused on the artform of te reo karanga, offering three taumata where we aim to instill a deep understanding and appreciation of tikanga tuku iho and delve into all elements of wāhinetanga. The ongoing legacy of Te Raina and Tākuta is evident in the thriving Kurawaka community, where everyone is encouraged to contribute to the collective wellbeing and sustain the cultural fabric of us as Tangata Whenua.
With the leadership of their daughter Piri as Kaihautū of Kurawaka Limited, Kurawaka stands as a testament to the vision, dedication and unwavering commitment to the preservation and celebration of our rich culture through karanga. In a world where indigenous voices are increasingly vital, Kurawaka Limited stands as a guiding light, inviting all to return to their roots, honour their whakapapa, and walk boldly in the footsteps of their tīpuna. 2023 saw a transition within the Ferris whānau, where Te Raina ‘retired’ of the business side and handed this to Piri, their youngest daughter, to lead and manage well. Piri had been the Business Manager of Kurawaka Retreat Centre since 2015. At the beginning of 2023, Piri and Richard took over the operations of Kurawaka, leasing the business from Mum and Dad.