Te Puna Aio - The Breath of Hawaiki
Te Puna Aio is a documentary produced by Kiwis For Good. It follows Tukiri Awa and Kawariki Thompson as they lead a group of men through breathwork practices aimed at processing trauma and building resilience.
This is a Māori-led initiative that remains open to all. The group also run popular workshops for women. The film offers a quiet, honest look at the work of showing up for one another and finding steadier ground.
The film is available here free to watch. If the approach resonates, there is an opportunity below to support the group’s goal of extending this work more widely across Aotearoa.
About the Film
Te Puna Aio documents real sessions led by Tukiri Awa and Kawariki Thompson. Through guided breathwork and group process, the young men explore practical ways of working with the lasting effects of trauma.
Breath has long been used across cultures as a tool for regulating the nervous system and supporting emotional balance. Traditional practices such as yogic pranayama, along with many Indigenous approaches, recognised that how we breathe shapes how we feel and respond. Modern research has begun to map the mechanisms more clearly: controlled breathing influences the autonomic nervous system, can increase heart-rate variability, and supports a shift out of the chronic fight, flight or shutdown states that trauma often leaves behind. Studies have shown breath-based practices can reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety and trauma-related distress for some people, particularly when practised with guidance and in a supportive setting.
In this film the work remains grounded and practical. The kaupapa is predominantly Māori, yet the invitation is open. The focus stays on what helps — regulation, connection, and the quiet discipline of turning toward what has been held.
This is a documentary, not an advertisement. It captures the texture of the work as it actually unfolds.
Watch the Film
Runtime: approximately 24–25 minutes
Content Notes
Please be aware that the film contains:
- Strong language
- Open discussion of trauma, mental distress, and personal struggle
- Moments that some viewers may find confronting or emotionally intense
- Watch with care
If you need support after viewing, reach out to a trusted person or a professional service. In an emergency, call 111.
Please support their work
The group is seeking funding to roll this approach out more widely so more young men across New Zealand can access similar sessions and support.
If you would like to contribute to that effort, you can make a donation below. Contributions help move the work beyond this film and into more communities.
All donations over $5 are tax-deductible in New Zealand.
Tim Baker
National Director, Kiwis For Good
