by Jocelyn Watkin | Jun 23, 2026 | Information |
All welcome to this FREE event on Saturday 27 June, at Māngere, to focus on your wellbeing during Matariki (Matariki Ora).
Learn about Ngā whetū (Matariki stars and their meanings), improve your breathing with tai chi and qigong, including Hikitia te Hā (uplifting breathing), enjoy kai (food) demonstrations and many more.
Time: 10am to 2.30pm on Saturday 27th. Arrive when you can, leave when you need to, or stay for the entire event.
Venue:
Mangere Envirohub
17 Elmdon Street
Māngere, Auckland 2022
Refer to map: https://share.google/7wDLVTJfSTdsVcxBb
Whānau and friends are all welcome. There will be resting places for kaumātua and kuia (older people) and those unable to walk far.
Free tai chi and qigong, too, which will be taught by me at around 11 – 11:30am. Ideal for beginners.
As well as my more usual tai chi, I will also teach a series of breathing movements called Hikitia te Hā. The translation is “Uplifting Breathing” and this is very much like qigong. I will teach this in Te Reo as well as English.
RSVP: Not required, just come along
What to wear: Warm, comfortable clothes that you can move in. Please wear flat-soled shoes like sneakers and trainers.
More details in the poster above.
He waka eke noa / We’re all in this together / We are all travelling together in life.
by Jocelyn Watkin | May 26, 2026 | Information |
These free sessions will be on the last Saturday of the months of June and July 2026. They will be fun, family-friendly and ideal for beginners. Anyone can attend, whether you live in Manurewa or not.
When: Saturday 27 June 2026, 1:45 – 2:30pm and also at the same time on the last Saturday in July (25th July)
Where: Community Room, in the Manurewa Library, 7 Hill Road, Manurewa, Auckland 2102. Refer to map
Price: FREE
Close to public transport: Manurewa Library is a 1-minute walk from the Gt South Road (a main transport route) and a 5 – 10 minute walk from the Manurewa Train Station and bus inter-change. That inter-change is a major South Auckland public transport hub, which is located off Station Road and next to the SouthMall Shopping Centre
Free parking: There’s plenty of free parking (for two hours) at the back of the library (entrance from Hill Road). Plus there is a 1-hour car park in front of the main library entrance (off Newhook Lane)
Age restriction: Open to all ages, but tamariki (children) under 13 need to be accompanied by an adult.
RSVP: Not required, just come along
What to wear: Warm, comfortable clothes that you can move in. Please wear flat-soled shoes like sneakers and trainers. Please also bring a filled water bottle.
Who is the instructor?
Jocelyn Watkin is a Manurewa local and the founder of Kia Ora Tai Chi. She is a qualified and experienced instructor for tai chi, taiji and qigong. These ancient Chinese arts can help you to:
- improve your health and well-being
- reduce stress and anxiety
- improve your balance and help to prevent falls
- boost your immunity
- get fitter without puffing, and
- live stronger for longer.
She has visited China three times, which included training at the sacred Wudangshan (Wudang Mountain), which is the tūrangawaewae of tai chi and qigong. (Tūrangawaewae is a Te Reo Māori word meaning spiritual home or a place to stand where you feel especially connected).
Jocelyn is donating her time so you can attend these sessions at the Manurewa Library for free.
Testimonial from a participant in the 2026 summer tai chi sessions in Cornwall Park: “Thank you so much. We’ve so enjoyed the classes. You’re an incredibly inclusive, encouraging and knowledgeable teacher. We already feel the benefits in terms of flexibility, balance and calm.”
Find out more about Jocelyn: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/about-us/
If you’d like to have a kōrero (chat) about these sessions, please text or phone Jocelyn on 027 493 9851 or use the Contact Form on the Kia Ora Tai Chi website.
by Jocelyn Watkin | Nov 5, 2025 | Information
Yes, it’s happening and for the 9th year in a row!! The free summer tai chi and qigong sessions with me in Cornwall Park are back for summer 2026. Please note that these sessions are outdoors so they need fine weather to go ahead. Details below including how to find out about any cancellations.
These FREE sessions are outdoors in Cornwall Park from mid-January to the end of March 2026. All welcome, ideal for beginners and suitable for all ages.
Dates and times:
- Sunday mornings, 9 – 9.45am and every Sunday morning (except Sunday 8 February during Waitangi Weekend) until 29th March 2026 (weather permitting)
- Tuesday evenings, 6 – 6.45pm and every Tuesday evening until 31st March 2026 (weather permitting).
Location in the park: Same as in previous years. If coming into the park from Greenlane Road West, you’ll be on Pōhutukawa Drive (the main road into the park). The tai chi sessions will be under the trees on the left-hand-side about half-way up Pōhutukawa Drive. (If you get to the roundabout, you’ve gone too far.)
Bring your water bottle and a sun hat/sunblock. Wear comfy clothing and footwear. Registrations are not required, just show up 5 – 10 minutes before each session starts.
As all of the sessions are outdoors, the weather needs to be on our side to go ahead. If you are uncertain on whether the session will be held you can:
I can’t wait to see everyone again who attended in previous years and also to meet anyone new, who would love to try tai chi and qigong this summer.
Curious about tai chi and qigong? Find out more here: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/tai-chi/
Please be aware that Cornwall Park is NOT owned by Auckland Council. It is a private park, thanks to the generosity of the founder, Sir John Logan Campbell. He gifted his land, which became known as Cornwall Park, to the people of Auckland. Also, huge thanks to the Cornwall Park Trust Board, which administers his legacy and provides funding for these sessions so you can attend for free.
Contact me or sign up for my free monthly newsletter to get an early ‘heads up’ on when there are even more free sessions of tai chi and qigong.
Tai chi for anyone who is blind or has low vision
Wait, there’s more at Cornwall Park this summer…the Cornwall Park Trust Board are also funding four accessible tai chi sessions for anyone who is blind or has low vision, and who wants to be more active.
The lessons will be held immediately after our general sessions on Sunday mornings and in the same location in the park. The timeslot will be 10.15 – 11am on these four Sundays in March 2026: 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th. (Weather permitting)
These free tai chi sessions in the park will be designed and developed by me. I have specialist skills and experience in teaching accessible tai chi to adults and young people, including at the Homai campus of Blind, Low Vision Education Network NZ (BLENNZ) and James Cook High School in Manurewa.
Tai chi is gentle on joints and is designed to improve balance, mobility, strength and fitness.
A big thank you to the Cornwall Park Trust Board for funding these accessible sessions.
If you’d like to know how I got started with teaching tai chi to students who were blind/had low vision, it all began with my successful pilot project in 2017. My work in this specialist area has grown from there. You can read a summary of my pilot project in this link: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/success-with-teaching-tai-chi-to-blind-students/
by Jocelyn Watkin | May 6, 2025 | Information
Dreaming of flying towards the sun this winter?
Feeling all shivery in the mornings? What about when curled up under two duvets at night, dreaming of flying north or to the Pacific Islands to follow the sun?
Before you book that one-way ticket, here’s a cosy secret: you can turn up your inner heat right here at home — no passport required.
As the days grow shorter and the chill sets in, many of us start hunting for ways to stay warm without simply cranking up the heater or huddling under several blankets all winter.
Tai chi and qigong might not be the first things that come to mind when you think of keeping warm — but they should be.
So, can tai chi really help quell the quivery shivers of winter?
Yes, absolutely.
Tai chi and qigong are gentle forms of exercise, which means they’ll warm your body just as any physical movement does. But they go far beyond that.
The magic lies in the how. Slow, flowing movements combined with deep, mindful breathing do more than just get your blood moving — they improve your circulation and help your body absorb oxygen more efficiently.
Unlike high-intensity workouts that burn through your oxygen and leave you gasping, tai chi and qigong cultivate a quiet, lasting energy that lingers long after your practice ends.
That’s why so many practitioners describe a subtle, comforting warmth spreading through their bodies — not just during the session, but for hours afterward.
In the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine, this warmth has an even deeper explanation. Tai chi and qigong help to cultivate your qi — your life force, your mauri — which is believed to support your body’s natural defenses and resilience. A strong flow of qi is said to help you withstand not just winter’s chill, but also many seasonal bugs and fatigue.
And it’s not just ancient wisdom saying this. Modern research backs it up, too. Studies show tai chi and qigong can positively influence immune system functioning and reduce inflammation — helping you feel stronger and more energised during the colder months.
Explore the science here: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/tai-chi-and-qigong-can-boost-immunity/
So next time you reach for another pair of socks or wrap yourself in a blanket, consider this: tai chi and qigong could be your warmest allies this winter.
I welcome new beginners at my tai chi classes in Clendon, Manurewa, on Wednesday evenings, 6.30 – 7.15pm. Your first class is free. Find out more: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/classes/
The photo above of me practising tai chi in the glow of a huge, close-up photo of the sun was taken at the ‘Astronomy Photographer of the Year’ exhibition, Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum & Gallery, in Hamilton. https://tewharetaonga.nz/
by Jocelyn Watkin | Sep 24, 2024 | Information
I’ll be teaching three FREE tai chi sessions in Cornwall Park, Greenlane Road West, Auckland, Saturday 28 September, 11am – 2pm for their Heritage Day celebrations. All ages and abilities welcome. Ideal for beginners.
The sessions will be scheduled at approximately 11.15am, 12.15pm and 1.15pm.
Note: These will be outside Huia Lodge and not in my usual summer tai chi spot.
There’ll be heaps of other free activities for Heritage Day in Cornwall Park, including:
- March, jive, groove and bop along to tunes from the last 121 years with the Auckland Big Band
- Step back in time and picnic like it’s 1929 with Art Deco Society Auckland Inc.
- Fly and make your own kite with CLM Community Events.
- Admire how past visitors would get to and from the park in style with the North Island Model A Ford Club Inc.
- PLUS you can pick up your own limited edition Cornwall Park Trading Card on the day.
Find out more about this amazing Heritage Day event in Cornwall Park: https://cornwallpark.co.nz/whats-on/heritage-day-recreation
If postponed on the 28th due to rain, the next scheduled day for this event will be Saturday 5 October, 11am – 2pm. Please check the Cornwall Park webpage or their Facebook page for updates about the weather.
This event is part of Auckland Council’s Auckland Heritage Festival 2024, which runs from 28 September to 13 October. There are lots of other free and low-cost events that will be part of this festival: https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/heritage-festival/heritage-festival-events/
