With the greater part (60%) of the Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa team being a whaea (mother), it’s no surprise that the business is built on the strength of whānau (family).
Additionally, as the foundation of Wai Ariki’s offerings, te ao Maori (the Maori worldview) and Ngāti Whakaue culture and practices are grounded in centuries-old ancestral stories passed down from generation to generation by tupuna (elders), many of which feature strong mothers of influence.
It is therefore with whānau and whaea in mind that this Mother’s Day weekend (11th and 12th May), Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa will open their doors to their stunning café and invite all whaea to enjoy a free quiet cup of tea.
Debbie Robertson, General Manager of Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa and mother of three girls, understands that Mother’s Day is an important day for both respite and coming together to celebrate all that mothers do and represent.
“We believe in the power of our healing waters, and we also believe in the power of family, conversation and coming together, which is why we have invited all whaea in to enjoy a cup of tea over the Mother’s Day weekend, with the hope that we’ll provide a moment of respite and calm for local mother’s busy lives,” Debbie said.
“Here at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, so many of us are mothers ourselves, and we have a strong understanding of what mothers need when it comes to respite and self-care. In fact, we have over 20 local mothers on our team, 85% of which are of Māori decent, with 40+ children between them. This creates a real comradery and kinship on site which allows us all to do the best job we can to deliver exceptional experiences.
“I’d like to take the opportunity to thank these mothers for their amazing work in bringing the Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa’s values to life with their intuitive nurturing side, which undeniably reveals itself in the delivery of the treatments and authentic cultural healing practices on offer for guests.
“And they do this whilst also juggling the demands of motherhood, which I am so grateful for,” Debbie concluded.
Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa looks forward to welcoming all mothers for a free cup of tea on 11th and 12th May in the on-site café. Mothers are invited to order from the café’s Oku tea range which is a unique range of herbal products built around the remarkable native herbs of Aotearoa.
The spa’s authentic wellness and spa experience combines the region’s healing geothermal waters with the centuries-old legacy of Ngāti Whakaue culture, healing practices and manaakitanga (caring hospitality).
Visit the Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa website for more on their offerings.
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