The Difference Between Wairua and Taha Wairua

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 Wairua is your spirit — your life force, the unseen part of you that holds your deepest energy, instincts, and connection to everything around you.

It’s not something you can see, but you can feel it.
It’s what reacts when you walk into a room and instantly know the vibe’s off.
It’s what carries your mauri (life spark) through your relationships, your emotions, your purpose.

Wairua is personal, intuitive, and always present — even if it’s quiet.

Wairua—What It Is

Your wairua is the part of you that feels, senses, and connects even without words.

Examples:

• You meet someone and instantly like or distrust them even if they haven’t said anything.
  → That’s your wairua picking up on their energy.
• You stand in a place connected to your whānau or tūpuna, and feel something shift in your chest.
  → That’s your wairua recognising the mauri of that place.
• You walk into a room and the mood feels heavy or weird.
  → Your wairua has clocked it before your brain has.
• You feel a deep knowing or gut feeling about a decision.
  → That’s your wairua guiding you.

 Taha Wairua means the spiritual side of your overall wellbeing.
It’s part of our Papakāinga Framework. 

So while wairua is the thing, your spiritual self...
taha wairua is the aspect of your wellbeing that relates to how well your wairua is doing.

 If wairua is the battery, taha wairua checks whether the battery is charged, flat, or short-circuiting.

Taha Wairua—How It’s Doing

Taha wairua is your check-in on how your spiritual side feels strong, flat, disconnected, or uplifted.

Examples:

• You’ve been around lots of drama lately, and now you feel drained for no clear reason.
  → Your taha wairua might be out of balance; time for a clear-out.
• You haven’t spent time alone, in nature, or in karakia lately, and you're starting to feel “off.”
  → Your taha wairua could be low and needing reconnection.
• You’ve been doing regular whakawaatea, spending time on your whenua, and feel lighter and clearer.
  → That’s a sign your taha wairua is being looked after.
• You’ve stopped doing things that feed your inner peace and feel disconnected, flat, or emotionally stuck.
  → Your taha wairua needs attention.