The Reawakening of the Sacred Whare Wānanga

Te Whatupungapunga Whare Wānanga Ō Nukutāwhiti — The School of Tohunga Development — stands today as the continuation of an ancient lineage of sacred learning carried within the whakapapa of Hokianga, Taitokerau, and Ngāpuhi and Te Moana Nui a Hīva for 700 generations. 

When Tākou Himiona Kāmira closed Te Wānanga Ō Taitokerau in 1958, the true Whare Wānanga IO of Hokianga entered into silence. From 1958 until 2013, the sacred fires of that traditional institution remained dormant within Te Tai Tokerau.

The kaupapa that emerged in 2013 was not simply about reopening a modern educational institution. It was about reconnecting and revitalising the Traditional IO Whare Wānanga within a contemporary context. The intention was to move beyond the limited and watered-down versions of wānanga systems that existed during the twentieth century and return spiritually and philosophically to the deeper foundations carried in the eras of Kupe-Ariki, Nukutāwhiti, and the ancient IO Tohunga traditions.

The work reached back beyond the 1900s, beyond colonial educational frameworks, and into the sacred knowledge systems that existed from before the arrival of Kupe-Ariki in approximately 900 AD. The purpose was to restore the tapu, discipline, cosmology, celestial knowledge, and spiritual integrity of the original IO Whare Wānanga traditions of Te Tai Tokerau.

To reopen the true Whare Wānanga, it was necessary to return to the original source of the knowledge itself.

That meant returning to IO — to the supreme origin of consciousness, creation, and sacred order from which the ancient Whare Wānanga traditions first emerged. It meant returning to the sacred foundations that existed before fragmentation, before dilution, and before the separation of spiritual systems into modern structures.

It also meant returning to the Arikitanga — the ancient chiefly and sacred leadership systems that carried the responsibility of protecting whakapapa, celestial knowledge, ritual practice, navigation, and the sacred balance between tangata, whenua, moana, and rangi. The Whare Wānanga could not be restored without reconnecting to the original custodianship carried by the Ariki and the Tohunga.

And finally, it meant returning to Hawaiki. Not merely as a geographical memory, but as the spiritual homeland of ancestral consciousness and the original source-point of the Pacific migrations, teachings, and sacred sciences. To restore the Whare Wānanga in a contemporary context, the journey had to reach back beyond colonial interruption and reconnect directly with the ancient pathways carried by Kupe-Ariki, Nukutāwhiti, and the ancestors who navigated Te Moana Nui a Kiwa.

That journey was undertaken.

Kaumātua — true knowledge keepers. Papa Kiko of Rapa Nui shared many ancient stories of Rapanui. Halemakua of Hawai‘i shared sacred knowledge of Hawai‘i. Papa Tangaroa Āmaru Kainuku of Muriwhenua, Cook Islands shared key information also. Pierre Samkua Kouia, a Tohunga of Ra‘iātea, was lived with and shared very sacred knowledge and genealogy of Ra‘iātea. The journey began before the return to Te Hokianga Nui a Kupe in 2013 and continued while living there for 13 years, and continues now.

Beginning in 2013, five years were dedicated to travelling throughout Taitokerau, Hokianga, and Ngāpuhi to seek the support of the remaining kaumātua who still carried the memory, understanding, and authority connected to the old ways. Through this process, 45 kaumātua emerged in support of reopening Te Whatupungapunga — Nukutāwhiti’s sacred Whare Wānanga. Their support became the foundation upon which the reawakening could proceed.

In 2018, Te Whatupungapunga: School of Tohunga Development was formally reopened.

Then in 2019, Te Whare Kokorangi a Kupe Nuku IO-Ariki — the International School of Applied Celestial Knowledge — was also reopened and established alongside Te Whatupungapunga. Then Te Whare Ō Kupe-Ariki emerged in 2024. Together, these sacred institutions now continue the work of restoring ancestral knowledge systems, celestial understanding, spiritual practice, and indigenous pathways of learning throughout Te Moana Nui a Kiwa.

The sacred fires were relit.

The pathways were reopened.

The Whare Wānanga awakened once more.

Today these Whare remain active, carrying the responsibility of serving whānau in Taitokerau, Aotearoa and across Te Moana Nui a Kiwa and continuing the sacred legacy entrusted by the ancestors.

Most importantly, the reawakening of Te Whatupungapunga would not have been possible without the courage, wisdom, and support of the 45 kaumātua who stood behind the kaupapa during its most fragile years. Their support ensured that the sacred fires of the Whare Wānanga Of IO, Te Whare Kokorangi, and Te Whare Ariki were lit once again after decades of silence.

This acknowledgement stands as an expression of gratitude and remembrance for those 45 kaumātua who supported the reawakening of the Tapu Whare Wānanga Ō IO, Te Whare Kokorangi and Te Whare Ariki within Hokianga, Taitokerau, Ngāpuhi and Te Moana Nui a Hīva over the last 30 years. Many of them have passed now. These are the 45 kaumātua of Taitokerau, Hokianga, Ngāpuhi and Hiva that gave their Mana Tuku Iho - Inherent IO Authority to reopen the ancient Whare Wānanga of IO.

   Te Moana Nui a Kiwa Support

The Late Halemakua - Hawaii

The Late Pierre Samkua Kouia - Ra'iatea 

The Late Papa Tangaroa Kainuku - Muri, Rarotonga 

The Late Papa Kiko - Rapanui 

The Three Mayors Of Ra'iatea 

Phrimin, Rose Te Orotai & Family - Maupiti 

Tohu Ora Ariimanihinihi - Pae'ao 

Taitokerau, Hokianga & Ngāpuhi Support

Arikinui Kawenata Crown, Kupe-Ariki, Pōmare Ariki 

The Late PWO Navigator (Dr, Tā) Sir Hek Bubsy - Te Aurere

The late PWO Navigator Piripi Evans - Whatuwhiwhi

The Late Remana Matiu - Uta Te Whaanga

The late Jim Te Tuhi - Te Kopuru 

Porohau Ruka - Waitaha 

Wi Mutu Te Whiu - Waihou 

Wiremu Heihei - Te Tii Mangonui 

The late Pat Ruka - Tāheke 

Uncle Sabu - Waihou

Uncle Bill Ngaropo - Waihou 

Uncle Hammond Ngaropo - Waihou 

The late Uncle Pai Tāhere - Mangamuka

Uncle Wiremu Peita - Panguru Waihou

The Late Uncle (Dr & Tā) Patu Hōhepa - Waima

The late Uncle Nau Epiha - Matauri 

The late Pita Kāmira - Rena, Mitimiti

Nuru Tau - Mataraoa 

Hone Taimona - Hokianga 

The late Erima Henare - Motatau 

The Late Matua Ross Gregory - Te Rarawa 

The late Anania Wikaira - Whirinaki 

The late Uncle Wallace Wihongi - Awarua 

The late Matua Hirini Wikaira - Te Hāhi Moromona

The late Uncle Joe Cooper - Panguru 

             Whānau Support 

I acknowledge my father Tawio Ngaropo, my three elder brothers Hone, Tawio and Christain Matiu and my son Te Pouoterangi for supporting me from the other side.

Pouroto Ngaropo - Manawahē

   Support Outside Taitokerau 

The Late Arikinui Tā Tumu Te Heuheu 

The Late Irirangi Tiakiawa - Te Arawa 

The Late Herewini Jones - Te Hāhi Moromona 

Stoney Bourke - Waitaha