Total immersion reo Māori cafe

1240 Fenton St, Rotorua

Open 7 Days - 7am til late - Fully licensed

MAKE A BOOKING NOW

What is Rumaki?

Rumaki is Aotearoa’s first total immersion reo Māori Cafe, located in Rotorua. While we have great food and coffee, our main purpose is to normalise te reo Māori by being a total immersions space - in the front and in the back, staff, customers, everyone. From the time you walk through the doors, Māori is the only language you’ll hear. No English.

Cafe by day, Restaurant by night, we’re fully licensed and ready for you to share kai with whānau, hold hui, sit and do your mahi, or wind down at the end of the day with a glass or wine or a cocktail!

Donate now

Firstly, this is a safe, nurturing space for people who want to spend time in a total immersion reo Māori space. No matter what level - just starting, getting more confident, conversational or an expert, this is our safe space. If someone with no reo Māori wants to come in, awesome! There will be resources to support them to order food and coffee, to ask questions, and to give the reo a go. And at the same time, the cafe is a total immersion space, day and night.

Who is Rumaki for?

Who’s leading this?

  • Katie Cherrington

    Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi, Te Kapotai
    KAIHAUTŪ - CHAIR

  • Aroha Armstrong

    Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Uenukukopako, Ngāti Te Roro o te Rangi
    TRUSTEE

  • Arohaina Owen

    Ngā Rauru Kītahi, Te Ātihaunui‑a‑Pāpārangi
    TRUSTEE

  • Vanessa Oxley

    Tangata Tiriti, Ngāi Te Rangi Māmā
    KAIKAUTE - TREASURER

  • Miraka Davies

    Ngātiwai, Ngāti Porou
    KAIWHAKAHAERE
    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • Ana Morrison

    Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Mākino
    ADVISOR
    COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

  • Lyndele von Schill

    Tangata Tiriti, USA
    ADVISOR
    HUMAN RIGHTS

  • Alana Swain

    Tangata Tiriti
    ADVISOR
    BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

So is it a business or a charitable trust?

Both. A charity can run a business (and make profits) to fund its charitable purposes. During this establishment phase of the cafe, we are seeking donations and grants. Once the doors are open, Rumaki will be self-funded by the operations of the cafe. It is not a charitable trust that will need to rely on ongoing external funding.

Get in touch.

Want to support Rumaki, enquire about jobs, or have ideas you want to share? Get in touch here.

Proudly supported by