Manawaka Ao was a name gifted to us by our kaumatua Paa Riikau Terry-Karapa and recognises our various stories as people of the waka who have travelled to Aotearoa from various parts of the world with our gifts, strengths, mana and also challenges to make Aotearoa, New Zealand home. Our community recognises our responsibilities and obligations as Tauiwi of colour.  

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Originially a woman of Colour community that came together at the start of 2021 (during Covid) that supported women from a diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds in cultivating experiences that forge deeper connections to self, each other and the histories of this land has now evolved in serving the wider BIPOC community.

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Supported by our founder Ara Alam-Simmons and our group of volunteers we show up in intentional and meaningful ways to be in relationship with each other, this land - Aotearoa and Tangata whenua.

 

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