Haere Mai

Manawa is a movement. Our mission is to create safe spaces where people can explore and express their inner worlds through ecstatic dance and the arts in Tāmaki Makaurau, the ancestral land of the Ngāti Whātua, Tainui, and Ngāti Pāoa peoples.

We truly believe in the healing power of self-expression—it’s like medicine for our souls, guiding us toward living from the manawa (heart).

In today’s world, we’re often divided by religion, politics, worldviews, capitalism, and competitive education systems. These things can create barriers and foster a culture of division.

At Manawa, we’re on a mission to build a community without judgment or competition. Instead, we want to create an environment filled with love, kindness, and respect towards oneself and others.

Our events are all about sparking meaningful conversations through the arts and broadening perspectives. We want to move away from a black-and-white mindset and embrace the grey areas where real understanding happens. By connecting with others in an open and accepting space, we can learn to appreciate the beauty of diverse viewpoints and experiences.

At the heart of what we do is the belief that each of us has a unique heartbeat, connecting us through frequency and energy.

Together, we can create a space where everyone feels valued and heard, and where the heartbeat of the people is felt in every interaction, and where we arrive at the realisation that we are one with the world and the universe.

He manawa o te tangata.

The heartbeat of the people.