LABOUR WEEKEND  |  24-26 OCTOBER  |  WAIRAU

Established in 2009, Te Tapuwaetahi o Rangitāne is a three-day festival celebrating all things Rangitāne.
Previously known as the Rangitāne Ahurei, the name of the event was changed to Te Tapuwaetahi o Rangitāne in recognition of the whakataukī

which speaks of the single footprint of great Rangitāne of the heavens.

After more than a decade, Wairau is proud to once again welcome the wider Rangitāne whānau from Tamaki-nui-ā-Rua, Wairarapa, and Manawatū.

The festival has long been a space for our people to reconnect, share stories, strengthen whakapapa, and celebrate the richness of Rangitānetanga.

Over the weekend, the four iwi will compete against each other in a variety of activities.

On Saturday night the Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Awards Dinner will be held at the Marlborough Events Centre.

Te Hītori o Rangitāne o Wairau Hīkoi – Sunday’s hīkoi will visit sites such as Pokapoka, Wairau Bar and Pouwhenua around the rohe.

Sunday evening – Housie & Quiz night at Ūkaipō and Tamariki & Rangatahi Movie Night at Events Cinemas Blenheim.

Ngā Rēhita

Registrations

Registrations are now open and will close on Saturday, 20 September 2025.

Your registration includes: Saturday Hākinakina; Tū Mai Rā Awards Dinner; Te Hītori o Rangitāne o Wairau Hīkoi; Housie & Quiz Night; Tamariki & Rangatahi Movie Night.

You can also pre-order your merchandise at our Shopify store.

All merchandise must be ordered by Friday 15 August.

Please note we can not accept late merchandise orders.

Merchandise will be packaged as whānau, or individual orders and will be available for collection after registering at Ūkaipō on Friday afternoon (4pm 24 October).

If you are not attending Te Tapuwaetahi o Rangitāne at Labour Weekend you can still purchase merchandise, however, these orders will be shipped one week following the event. We appreciate your patience.

Tū Mai Rā Awards Dinner

6pm Saturday 25 October at Marlborough Events Centre

Join us for an evening of recognition, connection, and celebration as we honour the outstanding contributions within our iwi.

Please note the venue has limited capacity, so we encourage prompt registration to avoid missing out.

EVENING SCHEDULE:

6:00pm	Doors Open
Throughout the Evening	Dinner, awards ceremony
8:30pm	This part of the evening is reserved for Pakeke (18+). We kindly ask tamariki and rangatahi (17 & under) to wrap up their night. Parents and caregivers, please ensure your tamariki get home safely and are appropriately supervised if you plan to stay on.
11:00pm	Ka Mutu te pō

 

TŪ MAI RĀ AWARDS:

If you would like to nominate a Rangitāne iwi member for a Tū Mai Rā Award, the available categories are:

• Rangitāne Leadership Award
• Outstanding Rangitāne Business
• Rangitāne Contribution to the Arts
• Rangitāne Rangatahi Leadership Award
• Contribution to Māori Education
• Rangitāne Sports Excellence and Achievements
• Services and Contributions to Rangitāne Iwi – Te Kaihāpai-o-Iwi

Award nominations must be submitted by 20 September 2025

Wātaka

Programme

Stay tuned for the full programme in August. For now, here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store.

FRIDAY 24 OCTOBER

12:00pm	Pōwhiri at Omaka Marae
4:00pm	Registrations & Merchandise at Ūkaipō
6:00pm	Kai mō te pō & Whakawhanaungatanga

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER

8:30am	Hākinakina at Marlborough Boys’ College & St Mary’s School (categories & grades to be confirmed)
6:00pm	Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā Awards Dinner at Marlborough Events Centre

SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER

9:00am	Te Hītori o Rangitāne o Wairau Hīkoi
Afternoon	Wānanga, Whakapapa and Evaluations at Ūkaipō
5:00pm	Poroporoaki
6:00pm	Housie & Quiz Night at Ūkaipō Tamariki & Rangatahi Movie Night at Event Cinemas Blenheim

Ngā Māngai o Ngā Iwi

Iwi Representatives

WAIRAU
Taylah Leger-MacDonald	Event Manager	taylah.leger-macdonald@rangitane.org.nz
Deedee Wickens	Event Coordinator – Logistics	events@rangitane.org.nz
TAMAKI-NUI-A-RUA
Ataneta Paewai	Cultural Advisor	ataneta.p@xtra.co.nz
WAIRARAPA
Raumahora Waata	Pou Ahurei Matua	raumahora@rangitane.iwi.nz
MANAWATŪ
Chris Whaiapu		chris.whaiapu@slingshot.co.nz

Haukāinga

Rangitāne o Wairau Whānau

Whānau Volunteers

We’re looking for helping hands from our Rangitāne o Wairau whānau to support with a few roles over the weekend. If you’re keen to be part of the manaaki team, just fill out the form—we’d love to have you on board

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION ASSISTANCE

Please note that travel and accommodation support will not be provided for Rangitāne o Wairau whānau attending the event.