Team (English)

Jenna-Rose is an Indigenous Māori from the iwi (tribes) Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toarangatira, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Kahungunu, and Te Whānau Ā Apanui in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

As an Indigenous researcher and educator, Jenna-Rose has collaborated with Māori communities, organisations, government institutions, and public bodies to deliver in-depth seminars and symposiums on Māori culture, Indigenous rights, and the history of New Zealand. While in New Zealand, she remains actively engaged in her tribal community, taking on key roles in cultural ceremonies and traditions.

Drawing on her extensive knowledge and experience, she has dedicated herself to personal development, using the wisdom and traditions of her culture to support individuals in building inner strength, deepening self-awareness, and strengthening mental resilience. Through the teaching of Haka, she aims to help people strengthen their self-confidence, enhance their well-being, and overcome physical and mental barriers. At the same time, she promotes the transmission of Māori practices and shares her culture with the world.

Jenna-Rose has already taught Haka for women in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Her goal is to create a safe and empowering space for female self-empowerment—through the practice of Haka Wāhine (women’s Haka). While the Haka for men and women shares the same origins of Toa (strength) and Mauri (life force), their respective sources of Mana (power and influence) are distinct.

The Haka for women arises from the essence of Mana Wāhine (the power of women) and is deeply rooted in Wairua Tapu (sacred spirituality), Te Whare Tangata (the source of life), Te Whare Manaaki (the house of care), and Te Whare Tiaki (the house of protection).

In her workshops, Jenna-Rose draws from these elements by using dynamic movement, expressive gestures, and powerful vocal expression to support women in recognising and embodying the strength of feminine energy.

In 2005, through his life and work alongside the Māori, Klaus Wintersteller was entrusted with the mission to share Māori culture and its immense power through Haka in Europe. He earned the right to be taught by Kaumatua (respected elder) Moe Tatua Turoa and worked closely with Moe’s sister, Tohunga Wairua (spiritual leader) Wai Turoa-Morgan. Over the course of this process, Klaus gained the privilege of teaching Haka and has since been spreading the cultural and healing aspects of the Māori tradition throughout Europe.

Around 2010, Wai Turoa-Morgan began holding gatherings in Ōtaki, Aotearoa (New Zealand), offering shamanic-spiritual teachings that were open to all who were interested. Wai’s deep connection to Ruru (owls), which she recognised as her Kaitiaki (totem), led her to place these teachings under the protection of the owl spirit. One year later, Wai decided to give these gatherings a foundation rooted in Māori tradition. For the ceremony, she chose four men to symbolically represent the four pillars that support the roof of a house: Kaumatua Te Waari Carkeek, Kaumatua Dave Heglun, Kaumatua Charles Matenga, and Klaus Wintersteller. The name of the house: Te Whare Ruru Hau (House under the Protection of the Owl).

After the ceremony, Wai said to Klaus: “Now that you are a part (a pillar) of Te Whare Ruru Hau, you may carry its name and the intention connected to it with you to Europe and use it there.” Since then, Klaus has carried her words in his heart, and in the autumn of 2023, he made the decision to bring that intention to life: Ruru Hui – Ruru (Owl), Hui (meeting, gathering, coming together) – is, for Klaus, the abbreviation and name of the gatherings.

Klaus – now an Elder himself – welcomed Stefan Sauter as a student on his own journey. Inspired by the unfolding of events, he passed the baton to Stefan in the summer of 2024 in the area of teaching Haka. Klaus continues to serve as a guardian and mentor, sharing the energy of love and heart with all his passion.

Stefan is himself a teacher of the new era. He studied dance education for 4.5 years, ran his own studios for dance and martial arts independently for many years, and spent a long period touring internationally. He also gained a total of 14 years of experience in industry, from production to executive level (in both Germany and the UK). Today, he works internationally as a coach, dancer, choreographer, producer, author, and educator across various fields, with nearly 30 years of experience.

Stefan’s connection to Māori culture was no coincidence. Through his work in both hip-hop culture and the traditions of Asian martial arts, he approached Klaus Wintersteller with openness and curiosity. After a long period of learning, Klaus accepted Stefan as a student and shared elements of his wisdom and practices with him. Stefan, in turn, brought his expertise from coaching, dance education, and martial arts into the collaboration. Over the years, this partnership between Klaus and Stefan revealed more and more potential. Together, they combined their areas of knowledge, expanded their way of passing on the teachings, and deepened their long-standing friendship.

The year 2024 marked a turning point, as events began to unfold rapidly. Inspired by all that had happened, Klaus invited Jenna-Rose Maharata Astwood (granddaughter of Wai Turoa-Morgan) to become part of this work. Jenna-Rose has known Klaus for over 15 years, having accompanied her grandmother Wai on her travels through Europe. Klaus—now an Elder himself—passed the mantle of teaching Haka to Stefan, inspired by the developments, and continues to serve as a guardian and mentor.

In turn, inspired by this renewed connection, Jenna-Rose has now stepped more fully into her own role and mission in Europe. Stefan is currently undergoing further training and guidance from Jenna-Rose in Māori culture, language, customs, social structure, rituals, songs, and dances.

Today, Jenna-Rose, Klaus, and Stefan are active as guardians and ambassadors of Māori culture in Germany and across Europe. Through introductory workshops, intensive weekend seminars, and in-depth journeys to New Zealand, they continue to carry and share the stories, the needs, and the strength of this still-vibrant Indigenous culture—spreading its message throughout Europe with deep dedication.