04/04/2026
I’ve just had this memory pop up from 8 years ago 🌈
At the entrance to Ruru House rests our mauri stone — a quiet yet powerful presence that anchors all who arrive.
Carefully chosen from our local awa, the Waiongana, this stone was selected not by sight alone, but by feeling — drawn to it in a way that spoke to the vision of Ruru. Heart-shaped in form, it reflects how we choose to lead: with care, compassion, and intention. A gentle dip within the stone, almost as if shaped by hand, felt symbolic — a reminder that while nature holds us, we too shape and are shaped by the journey.
The stone was blessed to hold and represent the mauri — the life force and essence — not only of the building, but of the important work that unfolds within it. It acknowledges our deep connection to the whenua and the responsibility we carry as kaitiaki of this space, and of the tamariki and whānau who pass through.
Last week we were gifted a beautify thoughtful gift on Leo’s last day. This historic aerial image from 1950, a snapshot of the past — the curves of the awa, the shaping of the land, the stories held long before us — felt incredibly timely. It reminds us that Ruru is not just a place in the present, but part of a much longer story.
In te ao Māori, it is understood that the mauri of a place — of a forest, a tree, or a waterway — can be held and protected within a stone or taonga. Our mauri stone stands as a guardian at our gateway, while this image anchors us to what came before.
Together, they remind us of our role as kaitiaki — to honour the past, to be deeply present in our work today, and to care for this place so it may continue to hold life and learning for generations to come.
