Kia Ora Tai Chi

What an absolutely wonderful way to celebrate Matariki - blue skies, warm sunshine, the peaceful surroundings at Kauri Point Reserve (in Wattle Downs), and the joy of sharing tai chi together made for a truly special morning.

This was our 5th year for magical Matariki tai chi. It was such a pleasure to welcome people who were trying tai chi for the very first time, while also catching up with so many familiar faces from my other classes, including our wonderful summer tai chi whānau from Cornwall Park. Seeing everyone come together to celebrate Matariki was fantastic.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped create such a positive, uplifting atmosphere. Special thanks also to Resh for so generously opening her home and hosting our delicious shared morning tea. Your kindness and hospitality made the morning even more memorable.

Matariki is a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look forward with hope to the year ahead. Today was a reminder of the friendships, community, and wellbeing that tai chi brings into our lives.

Mānawatia a Matariki! Happy Matariki.

Mānawatia a Matariki / Happy Matariki. Yes, FREE tai chi and qigong with me for Matariki is happening today (10 July) at 11 – 11:45am. Kauri Point Reserve in (at the end of a street called “Moor Park”, in Wattle Downs, Manurewa) Ideal for beginners. More info: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/free-tai-chi-for-matariki-holiday-2026/

If you’d like to join the shared morning tea after the tai chi session, please bring a small plate of kai (finger food) or snacks to share (that don’t need heating up or require knives & forks to eat).

Wonderful tai chi and qigong session today with seniors from Shanti Niwas. I love teaching this group.

FREE tai chi and qigong with me at Kauri Point Reserve in Wattle Downs, Manurewa, on Matariki Day, Friday 10 July 2026, at 11 – 11.45am. Ideal for beginners. More info: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/free-tai-chi-for-matariki-holiday-2026/

If you’d like to join the shared morning tea after the tai chi session, please bring a small plate of kai (finger food) or snacks to share (that don’t need heating up or require knives & forks to eat).

This is an outdoor event so we need fine weather.

If we have to cancel: I'll post the cancellation notice by 9am on 10th July.

In June 1901, Sir John Logan Campbell gifted his land to create Cornwall Park for the people of Aotearoa New Zealand. To mark this wonderful 125th anniversary, the park's management have added 125 new records of the park to their archive. My summer tai chi sessions in the park will become part of this with a photo or two.

Today, I attended a 125th anniversary lunch for all who provide activities in the park. Over lunch, I talked to a number of people in the park's team, including the CEO. Absolutely everyone commented on how delighted they were that the tai chi sessions were so popular. A big thank you to all participants for summer tai chi, for coming back year-after-year and for bringing whānau and friends to join in. It's looking very promising for more, starting in mid-January 2027. I'll keep you posted.

Note: The 125th celebration will continue for three years of significant anniversaries: the gift (2026), the build (2027), and the official opening (2028).

Matariki Ora afternoon session of tai chi at Manurewa Library. This followed on from the hauora (health and wellness) event earlier in the morning at Māngere. Again, it was a really wonderful to catch up with even more tai chi whānau (some from several years ago) and to meet new tai chi friends. It was such a friendly, welcoming and uplifting session. Huge thank you to Deepesh for your support, and to all who came and gave tai chi a go.

There'll be another free session of tai chi and qigong in the library on the last Saturday afternoon in July (25th), 1:45 - 2:30pm. All welcome and ideal for beginners.

Matariki Ora morning session in Māngere: What an amazing and special place to teach tai chi and Hikitia te Hā (uplifting breathing). A friendly, welcoming start to the day, outdoors with blue skies and sunshine. Such a joy to greet tai chi friends and to meet new ones. Loved learning about Rongoā Rākau, too (Māori healing system using native plant remedies and tonics).

I checked out the eels (tuna) in the nearby awa (stream). They looked so healthy and robust. Local groups have done awesome mahi (work) in cleaning up the awa and doing heaps of planting on the river banks. Huge thanks to Mia, along with I AM Māngere, Para Kore, and Etū Rākau Charitable Trust.

Exciting news! There will be two FREE opportunities to learn tai chi with me on Sat 27 June. One will be at 11am, at a special event in Mangere for Matariki Ora (wellbeing during Matariki). I'll teach a series of breathing movements called Hikitia te Hā. The translation is "Uplifting Breathing" and it is like qigong. Refer to the poster below. All welcome.

At the second FREE event on Sat 27th, 1:45 - 2:30pm, at Manurewa Library, I will teach tai chi and qigong for beginners. All welcome. More info on the session at Manurewa is in this link: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/free-tai-chi/