REKA Wellness

We are a Roopu (group) based in Whakatane, Aotearoa (New Zealand) that is focussed on holistic wellness for our whanau (family), hapu (sub tribes) iwi (tribes) and hapori (communities) through Kai (Food). Kai from the whenua (land), moana (sea), awa (rivers) and roto (lakes).

Nga Kai o Nga Atua - Food of the Gods

REKA means sweet, delectable and healing in te reo Maori (the Maori Language).

Our logo represents the kumara (a traditional Maori sweet potato) and its roots embedded in the whenua (land) that connects us to papatuanuku (Earth Mother).

Rapua E te Iwi nga Kai o Nga Atua is the acronym for REKA

and it translates as "People, search for the Food of The Gods".

Atua Maori (Maori Gods)

Tane Mahuta: God of forests and birds

Tangaroa: God of the sea

Rongo: God of cultivated plants

Haumia-Tiketike: God of wild uncultivated foods

Marae wananga and workshops

REKA maara kai wananga support and promote the principles of Permaculture because of it's alignment to Te Ao Maori (The Maori World)

REKA supports their key values Earth Care, People Care and Surplus Share

ommunity Development

REKA is working in the local Whakatane community teaching whanau at their homes, hapu and iwi at their marae how to grow, prepare and eat vegetables, herbs and fruits.

Raised garden beds have been built at seven marae, filled with vegetables and herbs. Fruit Trees have also been planted in and around each of the marae.

REKA wananga also promote keeping active by working in the maara, kauta (kitchens) or participating in physical activity programmes e.g Zumba, Belly dancing jazz aerobics

The tamariki (children) are encouraged to run around the marae, play with an assortment of ball games and keep active.

REKA is also working in local schools planting edible vegetables straight from the garden for the tamariki (children) to forage and eat straight from the garden

Contributors

REKA Trust is grateful for all the funding, sponsorship and collaborative support we have received from individuals, groups and organisations since we started in 2008.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board
Te Runanga o Ngati Awa
Te Puni Kokiri
Community Organisation Grants (CoGs Mataatua)
Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Toi te Ora
JR McKenzie Trust
Te Roopu Wahine Maori Toko i te Ora
Te Roopu Wahine Maori Toko i te Ora ki Wairaka
Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi
Andrew Doherty
Kevin Knight