Nau mai ki Waahi
Hei kaainga mooku
Hei kaainga mooku
Our name Waahi is derived from the whakatauaakii of our eponymous ancestor "Te Putu" who said "waawaahitia" to share the Tuna and Kai Rangatira of our Rohe.
“Waiho a Waahi hei kaainga mooku” – “Let Waahi be my home”, was announced by King Koroki when he made the decision to move from his home, to the center of the Kiingitanga movement ; Tuurangawaewae Marae.
Hei kaainga moo taatou
Our Paa is situated on the western bank of the Waikato Awa in Raahui Pookeka and is adjacent to Taatahi Kooawa (Waahi stream) which links Te Roto o Waahi (Waahi Lake) to the awa. We have over 2,800 registered tribal members who have nominated Waahi as their principal marae. Our primary iwi affiliation is to Waikato, we are a Poukai Marae and uphold the values, principles and activities of the Kiingitanga. The historical origin of our Paa was established prior to the 1863 Waikato land wars when our rohe was renowned as a source of tuna puhi. Waahi was an eeling settlement and contributed to the annual seasonal harvesting of tuna and redistribution across our rohe and our name "Waahi" is derived from the distribution of tuna.
Maa wai teenei Paa?
Use of our marae is not exclusive to our marae whaanau. We are pleased to open our facilities to members of the wider community and the complex is ideal for both large and small groups - whatever your kaupapa is.
We take pride in our marae and kindly ask that you treat it with the utmost respect during your time here. Together, let's uphold the mana and integrity of our sacred space.
Ngaa Whare
hotel
Ko Taane i te Pupuke te Whare Tupuna
Taane i te Pupuke is our revered whare tuupuna, and holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for the families of Waahi. It stands not only as a physical shelter, but as a living ancestor — a sacred space where the mauri of tuupuna is felt, where koorero tuku iho is passed down, and where whaanau gather to honour our connections to the Paa, and to each other.
Taane i te Pupuke can accommodate:
40 guests for overnight accommodation, and/or
100 guests for hui during the day
groups
Ko Te Whare Whakairo te Whare Hui
Te Whare Whakairo represents the original "Whare Whakairo" that stood at Waahi. This area is dedicated to hosting manuwhiri and hui in our office complex.
Te Whare Whakairo can seat up to 15 for small hui, and has a small kitchennette with microwave, fridge and dishes to cater for small groups.
dining
Ko Miria Te Kakara te Whare Kai
Miria Te Kaakara is our dining room and is inspired by the cruciform design of Miringa Te Kakara, a renowned whare waananga for cosmology and astronomy located in Piopio, Maniapoto.
Miria is more than a place of kai — it is a place of encounter, where manaakitanga is extended to esteemed manuwhiri from around the world, and where the essence of unity and whakapapa is shared through kai koorero and good laughts.
Its unique structure holds the mauri of both ancestral wisdom and prophetic vision. At the heart of Miria, a central window frames the night sky — serving as a celestial compass. When our mokopuna travel the world, we remind them to look up to Matariki, for its coordinates lead them home. The stars are our map, and Waahi is the whenua beneath them.
Miria Te Kakara can provide multiple configurations for seated dining:
full dining can cater for 360 seated
4 wings only can seat 288
or for smaller gatherings, there is an enclosed space that can seat 180
