Hapū Wānanga ki Tainui — Waikato

To contact the Hapū Wānanga team:

• email: hapuwananga@waikatodhb.health.nz
• Facebook: Hapū Wānanga

Our business hours are 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Te Poho o Nuku wānanga

Join us in a nurturing, intimate space to explore traditional Māori birthing knowledge. Through kōrero and connection, discover the taonga tuku iho of our tūpuna and how these practices can shape your own birth journey.

Hapū wānanga – 1 day (condensed) and 2 day options

These free kaupapa Māori wānanga are designed to prepare hapū māmā and whānau for labour, birth, and the journey into parenting.

Topics include:

• pregnancy changes and the stages of labour
• birth and pain relief options
• parenting, safe sleep, and breastfeeding
• mātauranga māori and traditional māori birthing practices.

Held monthly on a Friday or Saturday, these wānanga are best suited for those in their second or third trimester (20+ weeks).

WaiŪ – Breastfeeding wānanga

A 2.5 hour session to help prepare you for your breastfeeding journey. This session covers:

• how to prepare for baby
• positioning, latching, and breast and nipple care
• practical tips for breastfeeding success
• basics of sleep, settling, and early parenting.

Held every 6 weeks on Wednesday afternoons, 1pm to 3pm at River Ridge Birth Centre.

Wahakura waikawa wānanga – 2 Days

In this hands-on wānanga, you will learn to weave your own wahakura waikawa (safe sleep bed) for your pēpi, guided by expert weavers.

We also explore how mātauranga māori aligns with modern safe sleep practices.

Held four times a year.

To register for a hapū wānanga, fill out the form below. 

Hapū wānanga registration