Ra Karakia Dawn Ceremony Experience from Auckland

Auckland, New Zealand

As the sun begins to rise, take part in a ceremony thousands of years old (2 hours) at Takaparawhau - Bastion Point. For Māori, the Rā Karakia ceremony is where the spirit is reconnected to the environment. Dawn is the quiet time when the spirit world quiets and the living world starts to awaken. Experience includes transfers from central city hotels, full cooked breakfast and a special gift.

Be collected from your inner city hotel, before being will be welcomed by one of our kaiarahi (guides) onto Takaparawhau. As the sun rises, the call from our Kaikaranga (female caller) and putatara (carved wooden horn) travels across the Waitematā harbour towards Tama-Nui-Te-Ra (the mighty sun). As this is happening, an ancient karakia (blessing) is performed to celebrate the start of the day.

After basking in the light of the new day, one of our Ecology Kaitiaki (guardian) leads you down to our nursery and invites you to acknowledge Papatuanuku (Mother Earth), by planting/adopting a native tree (season dependent) and experience the ecology project “Ko Te Pūkākī”. We encourage you to write down your own personal wish or prayer and plant it into the whenua (tribal lands) with the tree connecting you and your spirit with our whenua.

This final component of the ceremony is important, as sharing a meal together raises the sacredness for those who participate in welcoming the sun and acknowledging the Earth. Share breakfast with your kaiarahi in the wharekai (eating house) at the marae (tribal meeting house) before continuing your journey. Leave feeling refreshed both physically and spiritually, and with the knowledge that you carry good fortune throughout your journey of New Zealand.