Welcome to this resource for Kāi Tahu whānau who wish to learn about our customary birthing practices.

This online resource is to connect Kāi Tahu whānau with our tīpuna knowledge and practices relating to pregnancy, birthing, as well as the much needed support tools for whānau who have lost babies through miscarriage or still birth.

This site springs from the PhD research of Kelly Tikao, and has been created in collaboration with Kāi Tahu midwives, whānau, hākui, and tāua who wish to support the revival of our customary practices relating to Hākuitaka.

You will find information about oriori (our birth chants) and you can listen to oriori that have recently been composed and some revived oriori from our tīpuna.

Nau mai tauti mai.