the omahanui story

In te reo Māori, the word ‘ōmaha’ means ‘place of pleasure’ and the word ‘nui’ means ‘much’.

Ōmahanui is a notable wedding and events venue set within the lush surrounds of the Whakamārama area. Our land bodes a rich history from when the grounds first opened to the public over 25 years ago. Over that time, the venue’s spaces have seen various developments before being refreshed and brought to life in 2021 as Ōmahanui, by owner, Aimee Law.

The name Ōmahanui originates from Aimee’s grandparents' Paengaroa property of the same moniker. When Aimee would visit, her Nana would tell her that their home meant a place of much happiness; the couple were married for 63 years - she was right. Plentiful with flora and fauna, Nana and Poppa’s immaculately kept gardens were the backdrop to Aimee’s parents’ wedding and they still live on a part of the property today. So, it seemed only fitting that our venue - for all of its weddings, reunions, birthdays, gatherings, and celebrations - be named after a place that has long been regarded as the epitome of love, too.

Only a short 20 minute drive from Tauranga township and 2.5 hours from Auckland, the bounty that is Ōmahanui awaits.

The images below were taken over the years at Aimee’s grandparents property - Ōmahanui.

And today…

Today, Ōmahanui continues to be a place where people come together to celebrate life, love and all the special moments in between. Since bringing the venue to life in 2021, we’ve had the privilege of hosting over 200 weddings, alongside countless private celebrations and corporate events. It’s been incredibly special to see so many people make memories here, adding their own stories to a place that has always been close to our hearts.

Behind it all, it’s a true family affair. Ricky joined the business full-time after our first year, and since then, we’ve welcomed two little boys into the mix, growing our family alongside the venue. These days, we work side by side to bring every event to life. Ricky takes care of the maintenance, gardens and event hosting, while Aimee looks after our clients and hosts most of the celebrations.

It’s a busy juggle balancing family life with running a venue, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We feel incredibly lucky to do what we love, surrounded by beautiful gardens, wonderful people and so many happy moments. For us, Ōmahanui is more than just a venue; it’s a little piece of our family’s story, and we love being able to share it with yours.