Our Story
Kia ora! My name is Keri Milne-Ihimaera, and I am pleased to welcome you to RUA at Bluff, located behind our home at 152 Marine Parade.
The pepeha above traces my heritage right to this place, specifically to Ruapuke Island in the Foveaux Strait, where my great-great-grandmother, Mereana Heni Kelly, was born in 1842. Mereana was the second daughter of John Kelly, who later became the first Pākehā resident of Invercargill. Kelly, one of a group of whalers and sealers who settled here before any planned European settlement, was married to Hine Tūhawaiki, the sister of Tūhawaiki, paramount chief of Ngāi Tahu. Mereana and her older sister, Catherine (Kitty), were raised by Kelly and Hine Tūhawaiki on Ruapuke.
RUA is the culmination of a long-held dream to reconnect our whānau here in Bluff with our Māori history, and so close a four-generation gap in our family’s story. Why RUA? Rua means two. There are many reasons for our choice of the name. Firstly, Ruapuke, the island we come from, and Ruahikihiki, the hapū (subtribe) we connect to. RUA at Bluff has brought me, with my husband, David, and my mother, Ann, from Auckland to Bluff – two generations and two cultures.
We came looking for a house in Bluff, and we found one—plus so much more! We have a large, close whānau who are excited about this reconnection with our past, and they are pretty keen on all the extra space and the fishing, the pāua, kina, and oysters!
We are busy people!
David is a mental health and addiction counsellor, working nationally for The Addiction Practitioners' Association Aotearoa New Zealand, part-time for Waihōpai Hauora in Invercargill, and for his own business Toro Mai Services.
Mum and I have our own education consultancy businesses: Keri Mihi Consulting and Ann Milne Education, which we run from home, and from The Tari, a collaboration space we have developed in Bluff
David and I have just launched a new business, Murihiku Māori Tours, to share our stories with visitors to Bluff and Southland
Mum is also Ann Webb Photography. She has developed a passion for photography since moving to Bluff, and many of her photos now appear on our pages, on our RUA and Murihiku Māori Tours websites, and you will definitely notice the stunning Bluff photo above the bed in your Studio. Check out her images of Bluff and across the South Island on her website.
With lots of travel around the region and country, busy workdays and evenings, we appreciate the help and support of local staff to ensure your unit is scrupulously clean, tidy, and ready for your visit.
Keri
Ko Ruapuke te whenua. Ko te Ara a Kewa te moana. Ko Motupōhue te maunga. Ko Te Rau Aroha te marae. Ko Ngāi te Ruahikihiki te hapū. Ko Ngāi Tahu te iwi.
MORE ABOUT US & RUA@Bluff
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TE RAU AROHA MARAE
8 Bradshaw Street, Bluff
Te Rau Aroha is the world’s southern-most marae. Located in Bluff, the marae was originally established in the late 1800s as a hostel for local Māori who lived on islands off the Southland coast.
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SUSTAINABLE & ECO-FRIENDLY
RUA at Bluff is committed to implementing a sound programme of sustainability and being eco-friendly wherever it is practicable.
We support the Tiaki Promise. Tiaki invites us all to look at the world through a Māori lens, to form a deeper connection with place, and to reflect this in our attitudes and behaviours. (https://www.tiakinewzealand.com)
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MĀORI-MADE / NZ-MADE
We have been committed to supporting other Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand businesses in the development of RUA at Bluff. You will notice some of these goods and services in your Studio.
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MĀORI LANGUAGE / TE REO MĀORI
While we are talking sustainability and whānau (family), we are passionate about sustaining and reclaiming te reo Māori (Māori language), which you will see in many different touches throughout your studio. Our eco-commitment is ethically and kaupapa (philosophically) driven by a long-term view to ensure a sustainable future for our mokopuna/grandchildren.
For us, that has to include an environment that values and sustains their language, and their identity.
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MURIHIKU MĀORI TOURS
A high-end Māori cultural tour experience woven through whakapapa (genealogy), landscape, and manaakitanga (hospitality/care).
Murihiku Māori Tours isn’t tourism as performance — it’s indigenisation in practice. Our knowledge, relationships, and storytelling are at the heart of the journey.
Guided by Keri Milne-Ihimaera and David Ihimaera, this small, bespoke tour is shaped by our whānau stories and our deep connection to this land.
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ANN WEBB PHOTOGRAPHY
When I moved from Auckland to Bluff in 2021 I began exploring the stunning terrain and scenery of Bluff, Southland, and the South Island. With fishing fleets, oyster boats, cargo and passenger ships going right past my front door, and birds everywhere, I picked up my phone and started taking photos - of everything!
Very soon, the phone was no longer enough. Now, I’m on to my third Sony camera, with all the gear that goes with it, and photography has become my passion!
We are very proud grandparents of 8 mokopuna (grandchildren) whose first language is Māori. You will notice our commitment to reviving and sustaining the language throughout our communication and in your Studio.
Recently, while putting together our new Murihiku Māori Tours itinerary (where we will introduce our tour guests to some basic pronunciation), we created a page with basic vocabulary and pronunciation help. You might like to have a look at that here: https://www.murihikumaoritours.nz/maori-language