Terreiro Mae Oxum

Terreiro Mãe Oxum is an Afro-Brazilian cultural organisation based on the Umbanda religion. We are dedicated to celebrating diversity, fostering inclusion, and creating opportunities for people to connect through cultural heritage, African traditions, Umbanda spirituality, education, and the arts. Our work brings together people from a wide range of backgrounds and contributes to the social and cultural vibrancy of our community. It also provides an important sense of belonging for Umbanda practitioners living in New Zealand, helping them maintain a meaningful connection with their cultural and spiritual roots while being far from their homeland of Brazil. Although we became the first Terreiro of Umbanda in NZ to be registered as a charitable trust in April this year, we have been operating as an informal community group for over 10 years, first in Queenstown and more recently in Papamoa. During this time, we have built strong community connections and consistently delivered programmes and events that promote cultural understanding, inclusion, and community wellbeing. Throughout the year, we deliver a variety of community events and initiatives across the Tauranga area. These include Saravá Fest, our multicultural festival celebrating Afro-Brazilian culture; community carnival events inspired by the vibrant Brazilian street carnival (Carnaval de Rua) tradition; outdoor movie screenings; open conversations and discussion circles that encourage cultural understanding and wellbeing; and book readings that promote learning, storytelling, and community engagement. These events are designed to be welcoming, accessible, and inclusive, creating opportunities for meaningful connections while celebrating cultural diversity.