Events
Whats happening with our crew
Discover the heartbeat of the Standfast whānau your gateway to upcoming events and shared experiences. If you're eager to join us, simply register your interest and secure your place. Explore the links below to embark on this journey with us. Thank you for being part of our community.
Standfast Opening Season Festival
Whenua • Whānau • Horses • Heart
It’s our first festival — and we’re going BIG.
Join us for the very first ever Standfast Opening Season Festival — a one-day, boots-on, all-in celebration of everything we stand for: horses, whānau, connection, and country spirit. This isn’t just an event, it’s the launch of a legacy.
We're turning the Kereu River Mouth into a full-blown country carnival with the dust flying, the music pumping, and the community riding high. And it’s all to back our Standfast Riders as they head into competition season.
What’s on the schedule:
- Carnival Games & Competitions – Test your aim, skill, and luck
- Food Stalls – Local kai, hot eats, cold drinks, sweet treats
- Live Music & DJ – Country vibes, feel-good tunes, crowd pumping hits
- Line Dancing – Kick up some dust and shake loose with the crew
- Exhibition Events –
• Barrel Racing
• Reining
• Cowboy Challenge
• Horse Sports
See horsepower, skill and spirit in action — Standfast style.
Date: Saturday 6 September
Time: 10am – 6pm
Location: Kereu River Mouth, Te Kaha
Entry: Gold coin koha – all proceeds go to our riders
Why we ride:
This event is a fundraiser for our Standfast Riders:
Aroha, Ahikaa, Ellen, Kiri, Tracey, Ravana, Motuaruhe, Chozen, Haunui, Bry, Kayde, Acacia & Nadine.
Every coin, every cheer, every moment helps get them to the arena.
STALLHOLDERS WELCOME:
• $10 per stall
• Plus a $100 donation to sponsor a rider of your choice
Support a good cause while being part of a day to remember.
Healing With Horses Workshop
Come Back to Yourself With Horses Beside You
Sometimes the world moves too fast, and our bodies carry more than they were meant to. This one-day healing workshop is a chance to slow down, breathe deep, and reconnect with the land, with yourself, and with the quiet presence of horses.
Through gentle, guided experiences alongside our horses, we’ll explore how to notice what’s going on inside, regulate our nervous systems, and find steady ground again, not through words, but through presence.
No horse experience needed. Just come as you are.
What You’ll Experience:
Grounding into the present
Settle into a calm space where you can breathe, feel, and let go.Horse-led connection
Be with horses in a way that’s natural, respectful, and healing no pressure to ride, just to be. Observe how your body responds as you step into shared space.Body scan and awareness practice
After connecting with the horse, we guide you through a full-body check-in noticing shifts in breath, tension, and energy, and gently naming what’s changed.Nervous system tools
Learn simple strategies to recognise when you’re in fight, flight, or freeze — and ways to return to calm.Gentle interaction
Grooming, breathing, and standing with the herd, connection through quiet presence and consent.Reflective space
Time to journal, share if you wish, and simply be in a space that honours rest and reconnection.
Who It’s For:
Anyone feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or disconnected
Those seeking calm, clarity, or a reset
Adults (18+) — no horse experience required
Professionals, parents, caregivers, or those carrying a lot for others
Workshop Info:
Location: Standfast Stables, 7391 State Highway 35, Te Kaha, Ōpōtiki
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Cost:$120 per person, $50 fence sitter (for guest watching will be charged on the day)
Includes: Gentle facilitation, horse time, journal prompts, refreshments and lunch
Group size: Small, safe and supportive — spaces limited, minimum of 6
Tui Teka Better Horsemanship Sports & Cowboy Challenge Clinic
Four of our Standfast riders — Aroha, Ellen, Kiri, and Tracey — are heading to Tokomaru Bay to take part in the Tui Teka Better Horsemanship Clinic, a three-day intensive focused on building trust, skill, and feel in both horse and rider.
The clinic will cover essential horsemanship techniques — groundwork, body control, timing, and connection — alongside practical training in bending, barrel racing, flag races, and the cowboy challenge. It's a powerful lead-up as our team prepares for the Ngātiwai Horsemanship Challenge this November.
This wānanga is more than just prep — it's about sharpening our craft, learning from some of the best, and standing strong in our kaupapa as a team.
We’re proud to represent Standfast on the East Coast — horses loaded, hearts open, and ready to ride.
Healing With Horses Workshop
Come Back to Yourself With Horses Beside You
Sometimes the world moves too fast, and our bodies carry more than they were meant to. This one-day healing workshop is a chance to slow down, breathe deep, and reconnect with the land, with yourself, and with the quiet presence of horses.
Through gentle, guided experiences alongside our horses, we’ll explore how to notice what’s going on inside, regulate our nervous systems, and find steady ground again, not through words, but through presence.
No horse experience needed. Just come as you are.
What You’ll Experience:
Grounding into the present
Settle into a calm space where you can breathe, feel, and let go.Horse-led connection
Be with horses in a way that’s natural, respectful, and healing no pressure to ride, just to be. Observe how your body responds as you step into shared space.Body scan and awareness practice
After connecting with the horse, we guide you through a full-body check-in noticing shifts in breath, tension, and energy, and gently naming what’s changed.Nervous system tools
Learn simple strategies to recognise when you’re in fight, flight, or freeze — and ways to return to calm.Gentle interaction
Grooming, breathing, and standing with the herd, connection through quiet presence and consent.Reflective space
Time to journal, share if you wish, and simply be in a space that honours rest and reconnection.
Who It’s For:
Anyone feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or disconnected
Those seeking calm, clarity, or a reset
Adults (18+) — no horse experience required
Professionals, parents, caregivers, or those carrying a lot for others
Workshop Info:
Location: Standfast Stables, 7391 State Highway 35, Te Kaha, Ōpōtiki
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Cost:$120 per person, $50 fence sitter (for guest watching will be charged on the day)
Includes: Gentle facilitation, horse time, journal prompts, refreshments and lunch
Group size: Small, safe and supportive — spaces limited, minimum of 6
MWDI Maori Business Woman Awards 2025
Exciting News: MWDI Māori Business Woman of the Year 2025 Finalist
I’m humbled and honoured to share that I have been named a Finalist in the Māori Women’s Development Inc. (MWDI) Māori Business Woman of the Year Awards 2025 — as a Pakihi Whai Ora (Social Enterprise) Category Finalist.
The Pakihi Whai Ora (Social Enterprise) category celebrates businesses driven not just by profit, but by the wellbeing of people, culture, and whenua. For me, this recognition honours everything Standfast Stables stands for — from equine-assisted healing programmes and NZQA-recognised equine training, to sharing stories through Standfast Plushies and Whisperers of the Wild, and carrying forward our Standfast legacy of resilience, aroha, and connection.
Being recognised from the Waiariki region and in Pakihi Whai Ora is truly special—this honour belongs to every supporter, whānau member, and rider who’s been part of this journey.
Event Details & Ticket Info
Date & Time
Friday, 24 October 2025
5:30 pm – 11:30 pm NZDT
Venue
Tākina Convention Centre, Wellington
(50 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington)
Dress Code
Formal / Black Tie / Unapologetically Māori
Evening Includes
Full awards ceremony with entertainment and event photography
Three-course dinner
Opportunities to connect with indigenous business leaders, sponsors, and supporters
Ticketing
Tickets are available through Humanitix—please note the event is R18+, and non-refundable.
You can transfer your ticket to someone else if needed by providing their details to MWDI at least 5 business days before the event.
To Get Tickets:
Visit the MWDI Māori Businesswomen’s Awards 2025 event page on Humanitix to reserve your tickets and explore payment plan options.
Ngatiwai Horseman Challenge and Horse Sports
Standfast at the Ngātiwai Horseman’s Challenge – 14–15 November
Standfast is heading north, riding with pride at the Ngātiwai Horseman’s Challenge, led by kaupapa, heritage, and horsemanship. Our four riders are ready to test their mettle across an action-packed weekend of competition, community, and coastal whenua.
Event Overview (Friday 14 – Saturday 15 November)
While the full festival unfolds over two days, Standfast is focusing on the main event: the full-day challenge on Saturday 15 November, following Friday’s opening pōwhiri and horse trek.
Saturday 15 November: The Challenge Unfolds (official details will be out later on the Ngatiwai website)
7:30 am – Course walk-through for cowboy challenge obstacles and judging criteria
8:30 am – Official Karakia and Mihi – whenua and wairua open the day
9:00 am – Cowboy Challenge starts:
Featuring youth (14–17) and open (18+) divisions across 13 obstacles based on coastal workhorse tasks—float loading, bush navigation, surf wading, and more
12:00–1:00 pm – Lunch break & gear shift; horsy prep for sports
1:00–4:00 pm – Horse Sports Events:
Pole bending
Stock horse challenge
Flag race
Medley
Mystery event – a surprise that’s always a crowd favourite
4:30–5:15 pm – Thrilling Beach Races:
Youth, bareback, and open divisions thunder along the sand
5:30–6:00 pm – Prizegiving & closing karakia wraps the day
6:30 pm onwards – Hakari & Western Kanikani at the woolshed – eat, dance, connect under the stars
Standfast’s Four Competitors
We’re backing four Standfast riders heading into this epic kaupapa-led challenge. The riders competing are Aroha Grant, Ellen Wairua, Tracey Davis and Kiritapu Jamison.
Why It Matters
Kaupapa & Heritage: Driven by Ngātiwai’s enduring connection between people, land, and horses
Skill & Grit: These events test balance, speed, strategy, and spirit
Mana & Support: Our whānau gathering on the sidelines, cheering and rallying behind our crew
Want to Join Us?
Riders ➝ Official regs open through Ngātiwai organiser Manaia Armstrong
Spectators ➝ Kia kaha—bring your whānau, bring your wairua, and back Standfast!
Overnight ➝ There’s designated camping by the Mimiwhangata wool shed (vehicle/horses welcome)
If you want to support us from a distance, you can donate to Standfast Riders 12-3155-0272282-00 REF NHC.
Thank you for your support!
Standfast in the arena, Standfast on the sand — Standfast unstoppable.
Healing With Horses Workshop
Come Back to Yourself With Horses Beside You
Sometimes the world moves too fast, and our bodies carry more than they were meant to. This one-day healing workshop is a chance to slow down, breathe deep, and reconnect with the land, with yourself, and with the quiet presence of horses.
Through gentle, guided experiences alongside our horses, we’ll explore how to notice what’s going on inside, regulate our nervous systems, and find steady ground again, not through words, but through presence.
No horse experience needed. Just come as you are.
What You’ll Experience:
Grounding into the present
Settle into a calm space where you can breathe, feel, and let go.Horse-led connection
Be with horses in a way that’s natural, respectful, and healing no pressure to ride, just to be. Observe how your body responds as you step into shared space.Body scan and awareness practice
After connecting with the horse, we guide you through a full-body check-in noticing shifts in breath, tension, and energy, and gently naming what’s changed.Nervous system tools
Learn simple strategies to recognise when you’re in fight, flight, or freeze — and ways to return to calm.Gentle interaction
Grooming, breathing, and standing with the herd, connection through quiet presence and consent.Reflective space
Time to journal, share if you wish, and simply be in a space that honours rest and reconnection.
Who It’s For:
Anyone feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or disconnected
Those seeking calm, clarity, or a reset
Adults (18+) — no horse experience required
Professionals, parents, caregivers, or those carrying a lot for others
Workshop Info:
Location: Standfast Stables, 7391 State Highway 35, Te Kaha, Ōpōtiki
Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Cost:$120 per person, $50 fence sitter (for guest watching will be charged on the day)
Includes: Gentle facilitation, horse time, journal prompts, refreshments and lunch
Group size: Small, safe and supportive — spaces limited, minimum of 6