A creative partnership between Ngati Te Whiti hapū & Taranaki Cathedral, envisioning reconciliation.

HE WĀHI WHAKARAUORA, WHAKAKOTAHI TĀNGATA ME TE AKO I NGĀ KŌRERO HĪTORI

A PLACE OF RESTORATION, TO LEARN OUR SHARED HISTORY

exploring our story

  • Interior view of a modern building with wooden beams and large windows. Two people are standing and talking near a wall display, with benches in the foreground and ceiling lights creating starburst effects.

    The House that binds

    The space is rich with visual elements - woven architecture, stained glass windows & Māori design

  • Digital illustration of an Indigenous elder with a staff standing in front of two children in a park with trees and a building, with subtitles in Māori language at the bottom.

    animated history

    The nine-minute video takes you on a journey from the 1830s to the present, exploring New Zealand history, St Mary’s conflicted relationship with Māori, and the voices who have long called for peace.

  • Open comic book on a table with illustrated characters and speech bubbles, with wooden slats and small windows in the background.

    Comicbook

    The comicbook on display tells the same story as the video. Also available to purchase.

  • Close-up of a wooden staircase with a black, green, and white abstract artwork on a vertical surface beneath the stairs.

    ngā pou

    Four contemporary lightbox pou support the kaupapa of te whare:
    WHAKAPAPA: relational connections
    MANA MOTUHAKE:indigenous authority
    TAONGA TUKU IHO: natural treasures
    WHAKAPONO: belief/faith

  • Woman in patterned white top and light blue jeans standing in front of an interactive digital display in a wooden architectural space with tribal-patterned walls and high windows.

    Touchscreens

    Each pou stands next to a touchscreen, containing the whakaaro (understanding) of Ngāti Te Whiti Hapū.

  • A historical document displayed on a large scroll in front of a wooden structure with angled beams, illuminated by natural light through nearby windows.

    treaty sheet

    The large-scale replica of the Raukawa Moana Sheet shows the signatures of 70 Taranaki ancestors who signed Te Tiriti in Wellington.

  • Wooden walls with triangular window shapes and stained glass window, allowing sunlight to stream in.

    Stain glass

    Three stain glass windows are woven in as design elements, including one looking out towards the Waikato Warriors Memorial, next to taonga gifted from Ngāti Hauā

VISITS & TOURS

  • Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with houses, trees, and a church. Cars are parked along the streets and a bike lane is visible. The area includes a green park or open space and mixed residential buildings.

    SELF-GUIDED VISIT

    FREE
    Mon-Fri | 9am-3pm

    No formal welcome needed, walk right into Te Whare Hononga, watch the videos, explore the touchscreens & take photos. Enhance your visit by using your phone to scan QR codes placed throughout the Cathedral site to learn more about our story.
    Note: We’re occasionally closed for private events. Please book your visit with us to avoid disappointment.

    Plan Your visit
  • Interior of a wooden building with large angled windows, two people sitting on a wooden bench, and a large screen displaying animated characters.

    MEET & GREET

    $30 Per Person
    Allow 60 minutes

    If you’d like a little more than a self-guided visit, you can arrange for a host to greet you, provide a brief introduction, answer questions, and highlight key features. Afterwards, enjoy exploring the site and exhibitions at your own pace.

    book a time
  • A small tour exploring the historic churchyard of Taranaki Cathedral's Church of St Mary.

    RECONCILIATION TOUR

    $100 Per Person
    60-90 minutes

    Experience the context of history with a guided tour around Pūkākā and the Taranaki Cathedral precinct. Explore how the history of St Mary’s, New Zealand’s oldest stone church, is interwoven with the Land Wars. Walk through the old churchyard, pause at the Waikato Warriors Memorial, and glimpse inside the Cathedral (currently closed for earthquake strengthening). The tour culminates in Te Whare Hononga, where an animated video brings the narrative to life.

    Book A Tour
  • A school group gathered in front of a Te Whare Hononga.

    CLASS EXPERIENCE

    $150 Per Class
    Allow 60-90 minutes

    Bring your class for a guided educational experience exploring the history of Pūkākā Pā, early settlers, Te Tiriti, and the Land Wars. Sessions feature age-appropriate kōrero, hands-on activities, an animated video, and time for questions. Our guide can customise the visit to suit your class. A rainy day option is available.

    Learn More

Te MANU
HONONGA

Line art drawing of a bird in flight in a circle

Te Manu Hononga - The Sir Paul Reeves Centre is the kaitiaki of Te Whare Hononga, overseeing day-to-day events, tours, and activities. The Centre is integral to Taranaki Cathedral, bringing social transformation through education and Te Rongopai. Te Whare Hononga is grounded in the Centre’s kaupapa of bicultural partnership and place‑based history at Pūkākā.

Sir Paul Reeves centre

Learn more
'Te Ara Hohou Te Rongo, The Path to Reconciliation' Comicbook. The story of Ngāti Te Whiti & St Mary's Church at Pūkākā.

Te Ara Hohou Rongo is the story of Ngati Te Whiti and St. Mary's Anglican Church at Pūkākā from the 1830s until the present day. It is a kōrero of conflict and creative recovery, with the construction of Te Whare Hononga.

The story is told in English and te reo Māori. Every page is thoughtfully crafted with deep meaning and invites readers of all ages to build bridges of reconciliation.

buy the book