Taranaki Pilgrimage
NZ LAND WARS 1863 - 1881
Pilgrimage to South Taranaki and Parihaka
Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th October 2026
Bookings are essential as places are limited to 20
There are many elements to this annual three day pilgrimage to South Taranaki and Parihaka.
We will gather on Friday 2nd Oct at 5pm in the evening at the Oakura Holiday Park for whakawhanaungatanga and a shared meal.
Oakura was the site of the outbreak of the second phase of the Land Wars. We will take an evening walk along the beach to Hauranga Pā, an historic gathering point for Taranaki iwi.
On Saturday morning we will be led into South Taranaki by mana whenua, Tihikura Hohaia, looking at some landmarks central to the events leading to the invasion of the Parihaka community.
In the afternoon we will spend time at the Parihaka gardens planting natives in the food forest there and learning of the community’s history, philosophy and future aspirations.
On Sunday we will finish our pilgrimage at Te Whare Hononga in the company of Jay and Erin Ruka with lunch at the Sir Paul Reeves Centre in New Plymouth.
If you’re interested contact us at pilgrimagesaotearoa@gmail.com
Please book accommodation as soon as possible at Ōakura Beach Holiday Park
Ask for Ryan, Alice or James - They are holding a few basic units for us for these dates 2nd - 4th October at a 10% discount. Phone them on 06 7527861 or 0277527002 to take advantage of this offer.
NB Our Taranaki pilgrimage can provide real challenges in terms of the weather. Flights to Taranaki can be cancelled and/or delayed, so we make the strong recommendation for pilgrims to organise carpooling to New Plymouth rather than fly.
Click here for past Taranaki Pilgrimages.
If there is any financial hardship please let us know and we can provide some assistance.
What to Expect
A Guided Journey
This pilgrimage is a guided journey. You do not walk alone and others have gone before. It is a led walk, so you can put aside the worries of finding your way or keeping the time and be present to the moment.
What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes and clothes, sun protection, a small backpack with snacks and water. Walking notes and the themes of the reflective pauses will be sent ahead of the day.
Costs
This is a free pilgrimage but be prepared to pay for meals, coffee and any accommodation costs or other supplies you may need along the way.
We always offer our speakers a koha of a minimum of $20 per person which will be collected on the day or can be put into the bank account.
If there is financial hardship - let us know.