What happens when the culture you once turned your back on becomes the key to your own healing?

In this episode, Cape Reinga shuttle driver Talz Popata opens up about her personal journey of reconnection with her Māori roots.

She shares the deep, restorative practice and intricate art of korowai (cloak making) that has helped her find personal peace, and explains the traditions of waiata and haka.

We explore what it means to heal through tradition, how sharing her culture with visitors broadens their horizons as well as her children's, and how reconnecting with her roots has restored her sense of belonging.

Show notes:

“Tōku Reo, Tōku Ohooho was written by Te Okeroa Huriwaka in collaboration with her close friend Te Tawhiro Maxwell, and originally composed as part of a language assignment. The waiata was inspired by Te Okeroa Huriwaka’s passion for te reo Māori and its revitalisation.

At its heart, the waiata is a celebration of te reo Māori as a source of identity, strength, and cultural pride. It reflects the deep connection between language and wellbeing, and the important role that te reo Māori plays in sustaining our whakapapa, stories, and way of life”

- Tracey Gilmer, Te Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea

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What makes someone dedicate decades of their life to welcoming strangers into their backyard?

For over ten years, James Johnston has welcomed family campers and Te Araroa trail walkers to Nikau Bay, a secluded campsite near Whangarēi built by hand using reclaimed native wood.

Beyond running the camp, James actively maintains the local trail and supports conservation efforts for the endangered Australasian Bittern.

In this episode of Te Araroa Tales, James shares why he chose to put down roots in this quiet corner of Aotearoa 30+ years ago, the story behind creating Nīkau Bay, and why the native Nīkau palm holds a special place in his heart.

If you enjoy this episode, please hit follow or subscribe to hear more local stories from along the Te Araroa Trail.

Love Bittern project: https://lovebittern.com/

Nikau Bay Campsite: https://tutukakacamping.co.nz/

 "We are the kaitiaki. We're here to nurture this land because it allows us to live on it, so we need to look after it"

Every year, over 100,000 visitors walk the world famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Waiting to greet them before their hike is Mere Turanga, a local Manaaki Ranger dedicated to keeping hikers safe while sharing the deep cultural and spiritual significance of this living landscape.

In this conversation, Mere shares what it means to be a kaitiaki (guardian) of Tongariro, the morning rituals that ground her work, collaborating with the Department of Conservation, and how her community grieved and healed alongside the whenua after the devastating Tongariro wildfires in 2025.

Show notes:

Te Reo Māori Glossary for this episode:

Kaitiaki (guardian), Manaaki (to welcome/care for others), Manuhiri (visitors), Rāhui (temporary restriction/period of respect), Whenua (land), Tauiwi (foreigners), Tapu (sacred, spiritually protected or restricted), Maunga (Mountain), Whenua (the land or earth, also means placenta - symbolising the unbreakable connection between people and their place of birth), Whānau (extended family), mokopuna (grandchildren or the future generations to come), mai rā anō (from long ago; existing forever and ever into eternity)

For more extensive definitions head to Te Aka online Māori dictionary: https://maoridictionary.co.nz/

Learn more about the role of Maanaki Rangers: https://blog.doc.govt.nz/2026/04/01/tongariro-alpine-crossing-how-to/

More information about the 2025 wildfires in Tongariro, and how you can donate the recovery fund if you'd like to:

https://nznaturefund.org/news/tongariro-national-park-fire/#:~:text=After%20several%20days%20of%20extensive%20aerial%20firefighting,and%20recovery%20will%20be%20a%20long%20road.

If you're enjoying Te Araroa Tales please hit Follow or Subscribe to you never miss a story from the trail!

Te Araroa Tales takes you into the heart of Aotearoa New Zealand through the voices of the people who live and work along the route of the Te Araroa Trail, a 3,000 km thru-hike from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

From trail angels and kaitiaki to conservationists and entrepreneurs,  explore stories of culture, history and belonging, and the many different ways that people connect with the land and with one another.

Hit follow to join the journey!