Here you can read recent Blog Posts from our Team.

At the end of winter, we put the puffer jackets away, spot ducklings in the rivers, and breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that soon we’ll have warmer days. Spring brings its ‘new life’ and bright colours, then all of a sudden, summer is upon us. We try to head to the...

Te Whare Tapa Whā This kaupapa is guided by the teachings of Sir Mason Durie and the model of Te Whare Tapa Whā. In this understanding of hauora, wellbeing is like a whare supported by four pou. Each pou represents a dimension of life that must stand strong for the...

As I look out to the sea, my eyes are blinded by blue. The bottom of my line of sight is framed with green trees, and I can almost taste the saltiness of the seaspray. I turn my head slightly to the left, and just out of the corner of my eye, I see movement. My ears...

I te timatanga, in the heart of Ngāmotu, New Plymouth, where the Ngāmotu hapū of Te Āti Awa iwi had long flourished, there flowed a sacred awa named Huatoki. Its waters had run through the whenua for countless generations, carrying away sorrows and bringing renewal to...

For the past three years, I’ve had the immense privilege of volunteering at Waimanako, an inspiring initiative under the umbrella of The Retreat, where I’ve facilitated weekly Friday workshops centered on breathwork, cold therapy, and meditation. These sessions have...

What a month at Waimanako - as we've begun our transition out from these much-loved premises!  The massive downpours have highlighted a few things for us:- - The growing extent of impact on communities in our motu, and worldwide - of the rapidly changing climate. For...

In the thick smog of the roads in Southern India, a familiar silhouette is that of a beggar gambling with the kindness of those journeying on that road. Some choose to give, others choose to ignore, while others choose to look, do nothing, and blame the government....

Kia ora, ko Jess ahau. I’m new to the Retreat Staff Team, and I’m super excited to be sharing some blogs with you! Before working at Taranaki Retreat, I had a busy career in the film industry in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. I worked a ridiculous amount, had very little time...