The 2014 Maori Women's Welfare League National Hui is underway with about 700 people packing into the ASB Arena for the official powhiri today.

For the first time since 1998 Tauranga Moana, which falls under the Tainui branch, will play host to the league's 62nd national hui.

Maori Women's Welfare League national president Katarina O'Brien (wearing korowai) during today's powhiri for the national hui. Photos: David Tauranga.

The annual hui is part conference, part AGM, and about 500 members have registered for the event that runs until Saturday.

The theme this year is ‘Kia mau, kia ngawari' which can translate to ‘stand fast to wisdom, gentleness, strength and humility'.

This hui holds extra significance for the league's national president Katarina O'Brien (ONZM) who is nearing the end of her three year term.

Katarina, who lives in Tauranga and is the wife of the late Michael O'Brien, admits to having mixed feelings about stepping down from the role as national president.

'I have found my term challenging but exciting at the same time, so am I looking forward to standing down? Yes and no.”

'The kaupapa (agenda) for my term has been to build up the membership, trying to make it more attractive to younger members as we need sustainability for the organisation.”

A number of presentations will be held this year, including korero from the Families Commission, Royal Plunket Society of New Zealand, Mana Riki and the Maori Women's Development League.

Workshops will also be run and include topics such as Maori rangatahi (young people) health and papakainga (housing on traditional land) development.

Katarina says the league is focussed on nurturing the skills that 'each and every person has in order to make their potential flourish”.

'The challenges that face the league are still relevant in today‘s world. The focus of our women, like Dame Te Whina Cooper who are of great stature, were the wellbeing of women and their families.”

As of late the focus has also been on embracing technology in order to move the league into the 21st century.

The national office and most branches all utilise websites, social networking, and other forms of mass communication to spread the league's messages.

This embrace of technology has helped strengthen the league, says Katarina.

'As an example we put up a quote ‘Here's to the strength of women, may we know them, may we raise them, may we be them'. In two days it reached 29,000 people which is quite significant.”

'Our messages are going out to all our members, and in turn they're sharing it with their friends, so it's basically spreading the league to the far corners of the world.”

The Maori league is a non-profit, voluntary organisation headed by a national body based in Wellington.

Established in 1951 it is the oldest Maori organisation in Aotearoa and was initially led by founding national president Dame Whina Cooper and national secretary Dame Mira Szasy.

The league is divided into eight regions that are defined by the original Maori Land Court Boundaries, with Tauranga Moana falling under the Tainui region.

Nationally there are around 2500 members spread over 130 branches.

The Maori Women's Welfare League National Hui is being held at the ASB Baypark Arena from today until Saturday, September 27.

For more information click here.