"Aro Hā, In the presence of divine breath" - Jermoy Van Riel
The name of our special centre was carefully considered. After being moved by some writing on the deeper meaning of Aroha, we connected with the author, Ruth Makuini Tai. Ruth is a Maori elder and founder of Aroha Education. Her purpose is to ako (learn and teach) the Aroha Light Language.
“Maori language and practice holds the memory of a time when the force of Aroha was understood and respected by all. Aroha is the creative force behind all dreams. Aroha defines great leadership, ensures personal success, and inspires us to go the extra mile.” Makuini Ruth Tai
Aroha means Love.
Aroha is a compound word, the parts of Aroha include Aro, Ro, Hā, Oha. These words give many layers of meaning offering a profound message of love and connection. ARO is thought, life principle, paying attention, to focus on, to face or front
- RO is inner, within, introspection
- HA is life force, breath, energy
- OHA is generosity, prosperity, abundance, wealth
We keep the meaning of Aro Hā close to our hearts, and look forward to working with those who share the vision.
If you desire a deeper understanding of our connection to aroha, have a listen to our podcast below with the Maori elders that gifted us this name. Or head to Our Story page for how Aro Ha came to be.