by Jocelyn Watkin | Jul 15, 2026 | Information |
Free tai chi and qigong (chee-gong) on the afternoon of Saturday 25 July 2026. Fun, family-friendly and ideal for beginners. Anyone can attend, whether you live in Manurewa or not.
When: Saturday 25 July, 1:45 – 2:30pm.
Where: Community Room, in the Manurewa Library, 7 Hill Road, Manurewa, Auckland 2102. Refer to map
Price: FREE
Age restriction: Open to all ages, but tamariki (children) under 13 need to be accompanied by an adult.
RSVP: Not required, just come along
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)
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 this session 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 | Jun 28, 2026 | Information |
All ages and abilities welcome for FREE tai chi and qigong at Kauri Point Reserve in Wattle Downs, Manurewa, on the official Matariki holiday of Friday 10 July 2026, at 11 – 11.45am.
This will be the 5th year in a row for this wonderful event. Huge thanks to Reshmee, for her amazing and ongoing help and support with this event.
All ages and abilities are welcome. Ideal for beginners.
When: Friday 10 July 2026 (the official Matariki holiday), 11 – 11.45am
Where: Kauri Point Reserve in Wattle Downs, Manurewa, which is at the end of a street called “Moor Park”. (When looking on Google maps, please make sure you select the Kauri Point Reserve in Wattle Downs, otherwise Google maps might direct you to the reserve near Katikati in the Bay of Plenty.)
Try these map links:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/hsexGBHbPuQjwwzc9
https://www.mapquest.com/nz/kauri-point-reserve-432366215
What to bring: A filled water bottle.
If you’d like to join the shared morning tea after the tai chi session: Please bring a small plate of kai (finger food) or snacks to share (that don’t need heating up or require knives & forks to eat).
This is an outdoor event so we need fine weather.
If we have to cancel: If the weather doesn’t co-operate or if the ground is too wet, please look for the cancellation notice by 9am on 10 July on the Kia Ora Tai Chi facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kiaorataichi
If the event goes ahead, wrap up warm, pop on a beanie and join in.
What sort of tai chi will we be doing?
Together, we will flow through the calming and harmonising Tai Chi for Strength and Balance.
This will be followed by the beautiful Māori Qigong called “Hikitia te Hā” (uplifting breathing), which will be taught in both Te Reo as well as English.
Mauri ora, tai chi whānau! (Wishing you all good health.
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 | Mar 4, 2026 | Information
Photo: BLV participants and instructors doing tai chi together in Cornwall Park
Free, outdoor tai chi lessons in Cornwall Park, Auckland, for anyone who is blind or has low vision (BLV).
Dates: Four consecutive Sundays in March 2026: 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th March. (Weather dependent*)
Time: 10.15am to 11am. Please plan to arrive between 10am and 10.15am. RSVPs are not necessary.
RSVPs are not required. Up to two accompanying family members or support people (per participant) are also welcome and will also be free to attend.
Tai chi location in Cornwall Park: The entrance to the park is at this address: 203 Green Lane West, Epsom, Auckland 1051. The main road into the park is called Pōhutukawa Drive. 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.)
What to wear and bring: Please bring your water bottle, a sun hat and sunblock. Wear comfy clothing and shoes. Please don’t wear Jandals or flip-flops.
Age suitability: These classes are best suited to those who are high school age or adults.
Support people: Each participant will be most welcome to invite up to two family members, friends or support people to join them for these tai chi classes.
What is tai chi? Tai chi is a mild martial art and low-impact exercise programme from ancient China. It is sometimes described as “meditation in motion,” as it combines flowing movements with deep breathing and mindfulness. Tai chi tends to be gentle on your joints and is designed to improve balance, mobility, strength and fitness.
Who is the instructor? Jocelyn Watkin of Kia Ora Tai Chi. Jocelyn is a qualified tai chi instructor with specialist skills and experience in teaching tai chi to participants who are blind or have low vision. This includes teaching at Blind, Low Vision New Zealand, BLENNZ Homai, and the BLV unit at James Cook High School in Manurewa.
Jocelyn has been hired by the management of Cornwall Park to teach these tai chi lessons to ensure that attendance is free. You can find out more about Jocelyn on the Kia Ora Tai Chi website: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/about-us/
*Cancellation notice: As these lessons are outdoors, they depend on good weather. If the weather is not suitable, a decision will be made by 6pm the night before each class (Saturday night). The cancellation notice will be uploaded to the Kia Ora Tai Chi website: https://www.kiaorataichi.nz/ and also the Kia Ora Tai Chi Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kiaorataichi
If you are not sure if the lesson will go ahead (due to bad weather) or you need more information, Jocelyn invites you to text or phone her on 027 493 9851.
