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TE ARIKINUI TE ATAIRANGIKAAHU NAA TE AO KATOA Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu became our sixth monarch on 23 May 1966. During her reign of 40 years, a significant number of milestones occurred for Waikato Iwi, including the return of Taupiri Maunga in 1975, the lodging of the claim for the return of the Waikato River and the West Coast Harbours in 1987, the return of the Hopuhopu Military Complex and Te Rapa Airforce Base in 1992 and the signing of the Waikato Raupatu Deed of Settlement in 1995. Ahakoa ngaa mano huri atu ki te haamarietanga Mahue mai ki ahau kotahi mano, e rima rau, rima tekau, tekau maa rua Ko ahau kei roto ko te Atua tooku piringa Ka puta, ka ora
ko wai taatou
He kohinga koorero moo te Kiingitanga. A six-part series featuring our Ariki 03
FEATURES 02
ko wai taatou Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu became our sixth monarch on 23 May 1966.
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Leaders by Design Creators, ideators, disruptors - designing new technologies or systems in their minds, challenging the norm, creating new solutions, and determined to designing and shaping meaningful pathways for Waikato-Tainui, Ngaati Maniapoto and Ngaati Kahungungu rangatahi.
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restoring the future Ngaati Koroki-Kahukura are getting their hands dirty as they undertake a programme of restoration to bring back traditional mahinga kai for the marae table. Kaituhituhi Denise Irvine goes on a guided tour through some of the projects that intend to bring the people back to land.
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Long-awaited upgrade for rukumoana marae Nestled in the heartland of Ngaati Hauaa is Rukumoana Marae a proud yet understated marae that is steeped in history.
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KOORERO 06 Te Kookoo Manu
E te whaanau, nau mai haere mai ki Te Kookoo Manu. Keep our
members up-to-date with the activities of your two governance
entities, Te Whakakitenga o Waikato and Te Arataura.
12 Getting you behind the Wheel
A newly established Waikato-Tainui grant will cut the cost of driver
licence tests and defensive driving courses for Waikato-Tainui
tribal members.
13 New CEO’s full of purpose 17 New 5-Star Hotel 18 Ruakura is a Go 19 Ngaati Maahanga Soccer Player aims for the Top 22 Tainui Group Holdings Strategy 23 Events, Poukai and Contacts
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FOR YOUR KETE TRIBAL REGISTER - UPDATE YOUR DETAILS Have you moved house?
Make sure to update your details on our tribal register. Updating your details is easy, you can call us on 0800 TAINUI (within NZ) or +64 7 858 0430, email us at registrations@tainui.co.nz Or better still, come in and speak with a member of our Registrations Team who are based at our tribal offices at 4 Bryce Street in Kirikiriroa. TE MATATINI 2017 Te kapa haka o Te Iti Kahurangi, whakahiihii katoa ana maatou i tohua koutou ki te taumata o Te Matangirua. Otiraa, ngaa kapa haka katoa o Tainui Waka i tuu ki Te Matatini 2017 – kia pai mai hoki! I haere toa atu, i hoki toa mai. We’re so proud of Te Iti Kahurangi for reaching the finals of Te Matatini 2017! Likewise, to all our haka teams who represented Tainui Waka - you all did awesome! Overall winners: 1 Whaangaaraa Mai Tawhiti (Te Tairaawhiti) 2 Waka Huia (Taamaki) 3 Te Iti Kahurangi (Tainui) WAIKATO-TAINUI STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS Earlier this year, the Waikato-Tainui whaanau welcomed Johnny Kenny (Taniwha Marae) who is the new Conservation Adviser for the Waikato Raupatu River Trust Team and Tahanga Raumati (Turangawaewae Marae) who joins our Maintenance Crew. Finally, we have Lloyd Whiu (Te Papa-o-Rotu Marae) joining our Education team. Our commercial arm Tainui Group Holdings have also welcomed Pierre Tohe (Taniwha Marae) as GM – Engagement; Robert Batters (Ngaa Puhi and Te Roroa) as GM – Operations; Robert Paikea (Turangawaewae Marae) as General Farmhand Tractor Driver; Rob Maniapoto (Waingaro and Hukanui marae) as General Farmhand Fencer; Angie Goosen as Finance Manager; and, Jodie Reihana (Hukanui and Tauhei marae) as Accounting Assistant. Nau mai, haere mai! We’ve also said farewell to Dr Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai, Academic Director of the Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development. She has taken up a role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for the University of Waikato. We wish her well in her future endeavours.
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Te Kookoo Manu E te whaanau, nau mai haere mai ki Te Kookoo Manu. Through this column we aim to keep our members up-to-date with the activities of your two governance entities, Te Whakakitenga o Waikato and Te Arataura. CEO APPOINTMENT As you will read in this edition, we were pleased to announce the appointment of Donna Flavell as Chief Executive. Donna is an example of the value of internship programmes which identify leadership potential and foster the development of skills and expertise. She was part of the inaugural graduate programme started in 1996 by Sir Robert Mahuta, and has steadily progressed through our organisation to now hold the most senior tribal management role. Among Donna’s strengths is her insight into the vision that we have for our people and her understanding of the challenges and opportunities we have to support their success. We look forward to working with Donna and supporting her as she implements our tribal blueprint for prosperity.
TRIBAL ELECTIONS 2017 Marae will be underway with planning for elections to select their Te Whakakitenga o Waikato representatives for the next three years. Members may have noted the earlier start to the process. This has been driven by the decision to better align the Te Whakakitenga o Waikato Triennial General Meeting with its AGM, which is held during July each year. This year the Triennial General Meeting will be held on 22 July. Marae are now working towards September 2017 for the Triennial Special Meeting when the new cadre of representatives will formally commence their terms. Elections to choose the officers of Te Whakakitenga o Waikato and Te Arataura will be held that day. The date for this will be confirmed in May. FIT-FOR-PURPOSE REVIEW The completion of the Governance & Representation Review in 2015 signalled the start of a review of our operating structure to check how fitfor-purpose we are to deliver on our tribal strategy. The review is aimed at realigning
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the Waikato Raupatu Lands Trust, Waikato Raupatu River Trust, and the Waikato Electoral College Trust for increased effectiveness and efficiency. Importantly, the new structure needs to support our growth, foster innovation and flexibility, and enable staff to deliver maximum outcomes to our members. This review is led by Te Arataura and is a priority project. It is due for completion later this year, and we take this opportunity to acknowledge our staff for their patience and support. KIINGITANGA ACCORD FORUM APPROACHES The Kiingitanga Accord is a formal agreement which arose out of and as part of the raupatu settlement of our tupuna awa, Waikato River. Each year governance representatives and management meet with senior Crown ministers and officials to share progress on the implementation of the Waikato River Settlement, as well as the wider activities of the tribe. The next forum will be held on 10 May 2017. Discussion will centre on the five-year review of the settlement and outcomes, including resources and capitalisation of
remaining co-management funding. There are also a number of political initiatives to discuss, including; • Urban Development Authority • Oranga Tamariki Bill • Housing • Relativity • Freshwater and Resource Management Act • Solid Energy • MBIE Regional Growth Program • Whaanau Ora • Fisheries • Marine Protected Areas • Te Ture Whenua Maaori • Right of First Refusal This forum is a constructive way to engage with the Crown to promote our ongoing mutual commitment to continue to work together on shared outcomes. GROWING OUR CAPITAL ASSETS How should we invest our capital? What is the investment framework that we need in order to deliver Whakatupuranga 2050? These are the questions that a newly formed roopu, the Waikato-Tainui Group Investment Committee, has been challenged to answer. The four entities of Waikato-Tainui (the Lands Trust, River Trust, Electoral College Trust and TGH) all hold capital assets that can and are being leveraged to grow returns. The Group Investment Committee will examine how those strategies could be aligned and potentially combined for greater effectiveness. The committee comprises representatives from each entity and they are: • Rukumoana Schaafhausen (Te Arataura Deputy Chair) • Maxine Moana-Tuwhangai (Te Whakakitenga o Waikato Chair) • Paki Rawiri (Te Arataura member) • Taari Nicholas (College trustee) • Chris Joblin (TGH Chief Executive) The committee is chaired by Rukumoana, who also chairs the Te Arataura Audit & Risk Committee. We look forward to
keeping you updated with progress on this important kaupapa.
for lending us the benefit of his expertise in pursuing our claims.
RUAKURA EARTHWORKS UNDERWAY The recent turning-of-the-sod ceremony at Ruakura called to mind for many of those present the same milestone for The Base in 2004. At that time the whenua was still in the form of the Airforce Base and has since, of course, undergone immense change. And now The Base is an important property investment asset for Waikato-Tainui and a major asset to the community.
The appointment of a replacement Negotiator will be announced following ratification by Te Whakakitenga o Waikato.
The start of earthworks at Ruakura holds the same sense of anticipation. It signals the beginning of one of our largest commercial developments to date following several years of careful planning and, at times, frustrating consent application processes and delays. We look forward to providing update reports to our members as the project progresses. NEGOTIATOR RESIGNATION Tom Roa has tendered his resignation as Negotiator for Outstanding Claims. Tom was recently appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal and has elected to resign as Negotiator to prevent any potential conflict of interest. Tom has acknowledged both governors and staff for their support during his tenure, in particular former CEO Parekawhia McLean, Donna Flavell, Taipu Paki and former staff member Julian Williams, and their teams. Tom said: “It has been my honour and privilege to serve the iwi in this capacity and I am very grateful for both the trust and faith of Te Arataura and Te Whakakitenga o Waikato in my ability to fulfil the role. “I believe that, whoever the next Negotiator might be, the team is second-to-none in the support and advice they can offer in negotiating the very best outcome in and for our outstanding claims.” Tom will remain a member of Te Whakakitenga o Waikato, representing Purekireki Marae. We thank him for his service and
HAERE RA SARAH-JANE In March, we said farewell to Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai after seven years as foundation Academic Director at Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development. Sarah-Jane was recently appointed to the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor Maaori for Waikato University. During her time with us Sarah-Jane achieved a range of notable initiatives, including: • Development and co-delivery, with Waikato University, of the Waikato-Tainui MBA which won the MBA Innovation Award from the London-based Association of MBAs in 2011. • Development and co-delivery with Te Waananga o Raukura of the Taahuhu Maatauranga Maaori. • Provided governance training to tribal members through the Takitimu seminar. • Launched Te Taari aa Taawhaki seminar series. • Launched the Summer internships programme. • Secured external research contracts which contribute to a significant portion of the College’s annual income. • Transfer of the Sir Robert Mahuta Endowment Fund under the 2008 Waikato River Settlement to the College and ensured a wise and prudent investment strategy. We know that Sarah-Jane will be missed, especially by the dedicated team she led at the College. We look forward to maintaining our connection with her in her new role and wish her every success. We also acknowledge Tuti Cooper, who has been appointed Acting College Director. HOMAI TOO PAATAI As your governance representatives we are available to answer your questions. You can contact us here tearataura@tainui.co.nz. 07
Illustration by The League of Live Illustrators. Photo credit: Kataraina Berryman.
Leaders by Design
Three iwi, 80 rangatahi and a line-up of international and national experts in entrepreurship, innovation and Te Ao Maaori – this was the first Tuurongo me Maahina-a-rangi: Leaders by Design Summit. Held at Hopuhopu in April, it aims to produce leaders by design, not default. Kaituhituhi Faumuina Felolini Tafunai reports.
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They call it a summit. Te tihi o te maunga. A meeting of leaders. In this case, the inaugural Tuurongome-Maahina-a-rangi: Leaders by Design Summit. The young uri of Waikato-Tainui, Ngaati Maniapoto and Ngaati Kahungunu, chosen for their lofty aspirations in innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership. Have they reached their summit? Not yet. But this is part of their journey. Coming down from their peaks are iwi leaders and global innovation gurus to share and guide these young minds over three days – 7-9 April at Hopuhopu in Ngaaruawaahia. Headlining is Stanford University lecturer Jason Mayden, who is probably best known for creating the Air Jordan brand for Nike and then the less-known for leaving Nike so he could care for his sick son. It was a decision that brought confusion and scepticism in the industry on how could someone leave a giant like Nike. Iwi leaders have been travelling to Stanford University over the past decade attending programmes and making contacts. When some of them heard Mayden was visiting Aotearoa this year, they seized the opportunity to put together a summit and work collaboratively to stage it. Summit co-ordinator Heremaia Samson says the aim is to grow leaders by design and not by default. There is a challenge here for iwi – to ensure the young ones are listened to, being supported and resourced to be able to follow through on the learning they gain over the weekend. To get the most value out of the summit, there is also a social media team capturing all the content and sharing it on Facebook as well as putting it in www.leadersbydesign. nz for those who could not attend. Four days after the summit, the live videos had been viewed more than 30,000 times. Mayden has good company at the summit with design-thinking expert Anne Gibbon, lifestyle entrepreneur Robett Hollis, as well as Te Arataura Chair Rahui 09
Papa (Ngaati Korokii-Kahukura), Maniapoto representative Tom Roa (Ngaati Maniapoto, Ngaati Apakura), the Tuhono and Data Futures Partnership, and Minister of Maaori Affairs Te Ururoa Flavell (Ngaati Rangiwewehi – Te Arawa, Ngaapuhi). There‘s also an impressive selection of rangatahi who have either applied or been shouldertapped by their iwi to attend the summit. Among them are 24-yearold Tamoko Ormsby (Ngaati Mahuta, Ngaati Maniapoto, Ngaai Te Rangi, Ngaati Ranginui) who is an engineer at Auckland City Council. He’s already one to watch for – has good hustle, charisma and energy. During the summit, he’s a participant, an occasional MC and a social media reporter. Also reporting is the dynamic Marie Scott from Ngaati Kahungunu ki Wairoa. The week after the summit, Scott received a Giving Back Award at the NZ Youth Awards in Wellington. The Giving Back Award is given to a young person whose actions address a current need and has had a significant impact on their community. In addition to that, when Maaori Television turn up, 23-year-old Ngaa Rauuira Puumanawawhiti represents Ngaati Kahungunu and speaks in te reo, saying that just like water flows and gathers, people flow and gather also. He adds that’s the essence of this summit to gather these experts and youth from the tribes of Maniapoto, Waikato-Tainui and Ngaati Kahungunu, is because of our genealogical ties and to create tribal plans going forward. At the first dinner, Minister Flavell helps set the platform in leadership talk over pavlova and chocolate mousse. He’s full of humour, telling the rangatahi he was a star at primary school, a star at intermediate school, and a star at high school, and when he went to university and he was nothing. But he also has come armed with 13 leadership points; the top three being: If you are up for it, stand up and take the challenge or let someone else through; never underestimate the value of our te
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Above: Vanessa Clarke helps rangatahi with their project design on day three.
reo; and to place a lot of value in relationships.
tikanga brought about by how people are using technology.
He also tells them to choose their life partners wisely. “Leadership comes with people behind you and beside you. You’ve got to find that person that allows you to do your stuff. Leadership ain’t a cruise, it’s a grind. You are going into battle in some senses.”
Te Arataura chairman Rahui Papa raises the examples created by Maniapoto and Kahungunu as collaborators, unifiers and resolute leaders.
The morning brings a lesson in heritage and origin. “Our whakapapa defines us – not what we follow, not who we follow, not where we travel , not where we live,” says Tom Roa. He talks about ‘Ko te kawenata o te Kotahitanga o Ngaati Maniapoto ki raro ki te Kiingitanga’ - the covenant concerning the unity of Ngaati Manaiapoto under the Kiingitanga. The 1914 covenant, says Roa, focussed on mana – recognising the mana of everyone and that mana is reciprocated – “te mirimiri o te mana”. The tikanga in the Kawenata discussed other key terms such as kotahitanga and tikanga. Roa says it was important that the Kawenata described tikanga but did not prescribe it, and that tikanga differs from place to place. He says it is also affected by time and refers to videoing and now live broadcasting of tangi, which is a change in 64
“Taawhaki retrieved the kete o te waananga (the learning baskets) and koowhatu (stones),” says Papa. “In the Paimaarire karakia, we talk about Tuu-hookai-nuku and Tuu-hookai-rangi. The kete of the waananga is our look back. The Tuu-hookai-nuku and Tuuhookai-rangi is our look forward. And you put the stones in front of you so when you achieve what those stones are doing, you put that maatauranga in your kete and move those stones forward. So it’s all about ongoing development and going forward into the future at every junction. “We can’t all be Taawhaki. We can’t all be Maui. We can’t all be Hoturoa. We can’t all be Tuurongo. We can’t all be Kahungunu. We can’t all be Tama-te-Ariki. But what we can be is the best for this generation of their mokopuna. And, to acknowledge the mahi (work) that they did, to learn from their examples as we go forward into a brighter future.”
Above: Poroporoaki time at the Leaders By Design Summit at Hopuhopu.
The tri-iwi collaboration has caught the attention of sponsors with the Waikato-Tainui tribal partnership with Mercury taking up the lion’s share alongside ASB, Ministry of Youth Development, Te Puni Kokiri, Trust Waikato, Tuhono, J R McKenzie, Graymont, and ice cream treats from Fonterra. Mayden calls his talk: The Triumph of the Willing. “So many times you hear the stories of what you are supposed to do to protect your people, to grow, to amplify your opportunities. But the most important thing is you first have to be willing, because willingness is the scariest thing you can ever step into. When you are willing, you are open to difficulty, you are open to adversity, you are open to challenge.” He takes the rangatahi through his life’s challenges, including almost dying from blood poisoning when he was seven, having a teacher tell him that people “like him” don’t go to the College for Creative Studies– they “end up dead or in jail”. He tells the participants that when difficult times come, there is growth on the other side of that. He walks them through his rise at Nike and how when he got to the top table, he realised there was nothing at the table that he
didn’t have when he was on the ground. With his son sick at home, he decided to leave. Mayden has gone onto many innovation projects including his latest company called Super Heroic, which aims to build strong, self-sufficient children through play and imagination. Mayden has been in Aotearoa before. He says the reason he came back is because he feels so connected and wants to share lessons so that the participants don’t have to go through the same challenges. Closer to home is Auckland-based entrepreneur 31-year-old Robett Hollis (Ngaati Porou). Hollis is rated by LinkedIn as among the top three most influential New Zealanders. He set up Frontside, a content consultancy and digital production agency, and founded and expanded ColabNZ – a shared workspace for creative entrepreneurs. Hollis doesn’t mess around. He says ideas are nothing (though his language is stronger). And, execution is everything. He says. it’s about the end game. He tells the participants to ask yourself what’s the problem? What’s the solution? What’s the budget? You need to prioritise the weak points - knowing what you are bad
at is so important. He also stresses that you need to get your ego out of the room so you can delegate and partner. Design-thinking expert Anne Gibbon grew up grateful as the daughter of a Mexican immigrant. She joined the US Navy as an opportunity to give back to the country and experienced discrimination in many ways. So she literally fought back – and became a navy boxing champion – winning her amateur title by knockout. She says that relationships and networking are key to her success. She also puts a lot of stock in loving what you do, quoting Khali Gibran: “Work is love made visible.” The rangatahi spend the last day taking their ideas into design phase and pitching them to the summit. In the final hour, Mayden runs a closed-door session with no broadcasting allowed where he reveals the plans for his next launch. Te Hookioi caught up with Tamoko Ormsby after the summit. As one of his interviews, he got to do a one-on-one with Mayden. He said the summit has helped redirect his thinking, and made his target bigger. And as for his big idea, he says: watch this space. 11
Getting you behind the wheel A newly established Waikato-Tainui grant will cut the cost of driver licence tests and defensive driving courses for Waikato-Tainui tribal members.
Above: Jahneece-Rose Rewha (Te Puea Marae)
Jahneece-Rose Rewha, of Te Puea Marae, is keen to take advantage of the opportunity as getting her driver’s licence has been one of many goals for the 16-year-old. “All of my friends have their licence already so this has motivated me to get mine too. I want to be independent and not have to rely on my parents to take me places.” The Huntly teenager says, “Having a licence will allow me to be more mobile so I’ll be able to drive myself to sports trainings and to school. At the moment I have to wake up early and travel an hour each way by bus. I also know by having a licence it will help me in the future when I start looking for a job so I’m keen to get driving ASAP.” For mum Lizana Tuake, she’s making sure Jahneece will be fully prepared. “She’ll need to show that she’s familiar with the NZ road code and at identifying hazards,” says Lizana. “But it’s also critical that Jahneece builds confidence so when she gets her licence, we’ll give her as many opportunities to drive where practically safe and possible.” The Waikato-Tainui Driver Licence Grant reduces the cost for tribal members who want to attain their driver licence whether it is for their learners, restricted or full licence. Waikato-Tainui Strategic Projects Advisor Lee Tane says, “The high cost of driver licence fees was identified as being a major barrier preventing tribal members from either applying for their driver’s licence or delaying them from moving on to the next licence stage. “Not only will the grant address the cost barrier, but it will also support the development of driving and road safety skills in our people by encouraging them to undertake a Street Talk Defensive Driving Course.”
Normal Cost Street Talk, offered through PassRite Driving Academy, is designed to Leaners $93.90 develop more competent and safer drivers. “What’s also good about this Restricted $135.80 course is that it helps to reduce your time on a licence period. For example, Full $109.50 if you’re over 25 years you can reduce your restricted licence time from Iwi Member Cost Leaners $46.95 Restricted $67.90 Full $54.75
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six to three months, and if you’re under 25 years, time is reduced from 18 months to 12 months.”
Lee says, “Tribal members who choose to take up this offer as part of the grant will only have to pay $80 when it normally costs between $180-$215 for the course.” The Waikato-Tainui Driver Licence Grant is available to all registered Waikato-Tainui tribal members. The grant does not cover test re-sits or licence renewals. To see the full grant criteria, go to waikatotainui.com/kia-haere-tuu 64
From Inspiration to Aspiration When your childhood is spent growing up within hearing distance of whaikoorero on the paepae, beside the flowing waters of the Waikato river, and immersed within the Maaori renaissance of the 1980s and ‘90s it’s no surprise your life becomes one of service to your people. Donna Flavell, newly appointed Chief Executive of Waikato-Tainui, is a child of the marae and iwi. Humble, committed, dedicated, and with a fire burning to see the rights, interests and potential of WaikatoTainui people, whenua and awa respected and realised. “I am honoured to be appointed to this role,” says Donna. “My career has largely been spent in service to the iwi so it is an understatement to say that I am truly humbled and proud.” Donna, who is a proud ex-student of Ngaaruawaahia High School, counts Sir Robert Mahuta as a force that fanned the flames of that fire through his visionary leadership. His thinking was years ahead of its
time. Her selection for his graduate programme in 1996, straight out of Law School, effectively set her pathway. “I could not have imagined a more inspiring start to my career. His aspirations in terms of what the future looked like for us; the immenseness of his strategic thinking for what our iwi might become. It still inspires me today.” Donna’s credentials for her new role are many and have been grown through the various roles she’s already held for Waikato-Tainui. There aren’t too many who can lay claim to having contributed directly to the two kaupapa that have dominated our modern history – the Raupatu settlement in 1995 and the Waikato River settlement in 2008. “I count myself as very lucky to have been able to work on the implementation of the Raupatu settlement, and then to lead the work on the Waikato river claim. These settlements have had a profound impact on our iwi and will continue to reverberate for
generations in the most positive of ways.” Such was her commitment to the Waikato river settlement that, within weeks of giving birth to her fourth child, she packed up and moved to Wellington for a month of final negotiations. The hui would take breaks around feeding time for peepi. And while the settlement might have been a challenge, implementing a structure that would change long-held mainstream ways of river management, reflect Mana Whakahaere and honour Te Mana o te Awa was a mission that Donna was up for. She led establishment of the Waikato Raupatu River Trust, followed soon after by the launch of Tai Tumu Tai Pari Tai Ao, our tribal environmental strategy. These were both significant highlights for Donna, who was then offered a two-year secondment at Ngaai Tahu as General Manager Strategy and Influence. “Ngaai Tahu and Waikato-Tainui have the same goals, just different ways of achieving them. My time there allowed me to experience a whole new world of leadership, management thinking, skills development and relationships. I am very grateful for that opportunity.” She returned home to WaikatoTainui last year in a key support role to the then Chief Executive Parekawhia McLean. Fortunately, Donna is supported by a loving whaanau which has helped make it possible for her to pursue a career while raising four tamariki. She is also now a proud grandmother of one. Her husband Ed Heremaia leads on the home front and takes up the slack when mahi calls.
Above: Waikato-Tainui
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new CEO - Donna Fla
“Life is busy but I like to think that an impassioned life full of meaning and purpose makes for positive role modelling. I’m hoping it’ll rub off so that our tamariki will be part of the next generation inspired to a life of service and contribution.”
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Restoring the Future Ngaati Koroki-Kahukura are getting their hands dirty as they undertake a programme of restoration to bring back traditional mahinga kai for the marae table. Kaituhituhi Denise Irvine goes on a guided tour through some of the projects that intend to bring the people back to land. Above: Willie Te Aho and Te Aroha Mani in the middle of their watercress plantation. Photo credit: Kataraina Berryman
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Willie Te Aho digs under the leaves of a kuumara patch with his bare hands and unearths a real beauty, a big purple-skinned kuumara in mint condition. It’s so good that it prompts a few jokes that Willie may have slipped a store-bought kuumara into the ground without anyone noticing. But there is photographic evidence to support him. “It’s good kai,” he says. The kuumara, grown at Poohara Marae, Arapuni is the real deal. It is an early example of what will soon be harvested in bulk, and local kuumara will be proudly on the table for the Poukai at Poohara and Maungatautari in June. Poohara and Maungatautari are the two marae of Ngaati Korokii-Kahukura iwi. The kuumara garden at Poohara is one of the iwi’s new biodiversity projects aimed at using the land for different purposes, and growing local kai for local tables. Projects encompass tuna (eel) restoration, watercress cultivation, beekeeping, maanuka plantations, kuumara gardens and hydro energy. They’re run by the iwi’s commercial arm, Manawanui Developments Limited Partnership (MDLP). Willie Te Aho, from Te Whaanau aa Apanui iwi on the East Coast, is managing director of MDLP. He married into Ngaati KorokiiKahukura through his wife Linda Te Aho (nee Papa). The iwi has 250ha of land that it owns or leases, stretching from Karapiro to Arapuni, and this includes three productive dairy farms. Last August, when the iwi took over the management of its farms, it designated 80ha to be used in a different way from dairy, looking at schemes that would benefit iwi members through sharing of knowledge, skills and kai. Says Willie, “We reinvested in biodiversity. The projects are ambitious, but if you’re going to make a difference you can’t creep your way forward. You have to back yourself.” The work is co-funded with support from the tribe through its Waikato Raupatu River Trust entity. Today Willie is taking Te Hookioi on a tour of the projects. He’s also got Hamilton-based fisheries scientist Dr Jacques Boubee on the trip because Jacques is the iwi’s expert consultant on tuna. Jacques can spot a potential pond site for tuna restoration quicker than anyone. At one point, when vistas of rolling green farmland and native bush are being admired, Jacques chips in with the comment, “It will be even more beautiful when we have a lot more ponds here.” Willie’s first stop is Pukekura A, Karapiro, for serious tuna talk. Pukekura A (2.2ha of iwi land) has a pond choked with waterlilies and Jacques has identified it as a perfect place to drop in about 1 kg of elvers (baby tuna) taken from the front of Karapiro Dam. This pond – when well cleaned and maintained - has the potential to provide 100kg of tuna each year. Tuna was once plentiful in creeks around these parts. But waterways have been changed and drained over the years and Waikato River hydro dams have impeded the natural progress of tuna upstream. Says Jacques: “Very few now make it up to Arapuni, the only way to get them there is to transfer them.” The tuna project will be run in conjunction with the Eel Enhancement Company, a group of commercial eel operators with wide knowledge and expertise. Ten restoration sites have been identified and the starting date is getting close. Willie says that as well as having more tuna available to eat, there will be opportunities for sharing information on raising and nurturing this important food source, matching maatauranga Maaori with complementary scientific knowledge. From Pukekura A, Willie heads uphill to Maungatautari Marae to visit Taiapa Kara and Karaitiana Tamatea. Taiapa is the marae’s chairman, and a trustee of Ngaati Korokii-Kahukura and Taumatawiwi Trust (TWT); Karaitiana is co-chair of NKKT and TWT, and a trustee of Manawanui 15
Development Limited Partnership. The two men sit in the sunshine at the front of Te Manawanui wharenui and a tui calls from the trees. Karaitiana says that in its current post-Treaty of Waitangi settlement phase, the iwi aims to get its people back to the land. “Both marae (Maungatautari and Poohara) are united in this pursuit. We are two marae but one people.” Some of the initiatives will move quickly. Says Karaitiana: “It is important to take our people with us, to keep them informed, so everyone keeps up.” Tuna restoration is discussed, and Taiapa recalls his childhood when his mother used to wake him up to get eels for breakfast from a creek near the marae. Building up that resource and knowledge again is important. Willie drives on to Poohara Marae, built in the lee of imposing cliffs. This is where he digs up the healthy kuumara that has been planted between rows of fledgling maanuka . Kuumara and maanuka are important to the big picture being presented today. Around 2000 maanuka have come from the tribe’s native nursery at Hopuhopu which was established to supply plants for restoration work in the tribal area. There are 600 maanuka already planted at Poohara, and more to go elsewhere. Maanuka is seen as an investment in biodiversity. It will complement a new beekeeping project as well as providing future carbon trading potential and possible extraction of Maanuka oil. No sprays or artificial fertilisers are being used for kuumara and maanuka , and organic certification is another long-term goal.
is sparklingly clear, the crispy watercress flourishes, and when Willie lifts a rock a good-sized koura crawls out. There is a fish-andgreens meal for the plucking. Watercress, kuumara and maanuka are being cared for by father and son gardening team Raana and Raahui Huata, who live at Poohara. Raahui is Ngaati Korokii-Kahukura through his mother and Raana is Ngaati Apakura from Puurekireki marae. They’re currently clearing weeds and debris from creeks to ensure a clean flow for the watercress. They’ve also been battling the leeches they’ve found attached to the roots of reeds in the waterways. Raana is pleased with the growth of the kuumara at Poohara. “It’s wicked soil here,” he says. “They do really well.” Bee hives and the hydro project are the final call. Ten hives sit against a backdrop of native bush; they’re under the care of Tammy and Hema Tauroa who have done a beekeeping course with Waikato Maaori Beekeepers’ Collective in conjunction with Te Puni Kokiri. Tammy is from Ngaati Kuri iwi in Northland, and Poohara is Hema’s marae. Hema oversees the hives and Tammy runs administration and development. They own the
business under the umbrella of the iwi and aim to grow it to 100 hives by June next year. Says Tammy, “We want to develop our own whaanau business, contribute to the iwi and teach others. It is a huge privilege to be given this opportunity by iwi.” The hives sit above the noisy, fast-running Huihuitaha Stream, ear-marked for the iwi’s micro-hydro scheme. This is led by Wharekehi Winikerei, of Poohara Marae, who lives in Tokoroa. It will be based on the low-impact hydro schemes of other iwi, the premise being that only a portion of water is taken off for energy generation and it is cycled back into the stream after use. Wharekehi shows four potential hydro sites amid the waterfalls of beautiful Huihuitaha, and he says the aim is to create energy to run the iwi’s Arapuni dairy farm. The hydro plan is currently the subject of feasibility studies; Wharekehi is quietly confident. Tui now shout farewell from the bush. Today has been a lesson on how you put local kai on local tables. And at the same time contribute to the well-being of an iwi and its precious land. “We’re walking the talk,” says Willie.
Watercress is the next stop, down to a creek on the iwi’s Arapuni dairy farm that has been fenced for enhancement of the cress. It is lush with fresh greens; Willie says they’ve been harvesting heaps of cress in recent times. He heads to another site, a pond that is 100m from a puna running to the Waikato River. The water te
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Pictured: Maanuka seedlings from Hopuhopu Nursey are ready for planting. Photo credit: Kataraina Berryman
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Pictured: An artist impression of the new 5-star hotel, which will carry the name Te Arikinui.
TGH develops ‘Te Arikinui’ Airport Hotel Tainui Group Holdings have announced an agreement to develop a new 5-star hotel adjacent to Auckland Airport’s international terminal and the existing 4-star Novotel hotel. The new premium 250-room hotel will be operated by AccorHotels under the Pullman brand. The timing has been influenced by unprecedented demand for hotel accommodation in Auckland. Building the hotel now also responds directly to strong demand for accommodation that provides easy access to the airport terminals.
Queen Te Atairangikaahu chose when she ascended to the Te Wherowhero (throne) at the time of her Coronation. The chiefly associations of Te Arikinui are in keeping with the 5-star premium experience to be offered at the hotel. Joblin says that this agreement reflects the strength of the relationship that has been established between Tainui Group Holdings and Auckland Airport.
“This is an exciting project that will result in two complementary assets located in an exceptional position at New Zealand’s main gateway,” says Chris Joblin – CEO Tainui Group Holdings. “This creates tremendous scope to create a unique, authentic New Zealand experience for airport visitors and hotel guests including through unique cultural elements incorporated in the design.”
Auckland Airport property general manager Mark Thomson says Auckland Airport plays a key role in New Zealand’s growing tourism industry and in connecting Auckland to New Zealand and New Zealand to the world”. “This hotel, which will benefit from its premium location adjacent to the international terminal and the current Novotel, will provide more choices for travellers looking for high quality accommodation within walking distance of both terminals.”
The hotel building will carry the name ‘Te Arikinui’, which is the chiefly title that our Late Maaori
“Being able to walk to the terminals, rather than drive, has considerable appeal to hotel patrons and will also
help reduce vehicle movements on our roads,” says Thomson. The new hotel will trade as the Pullman Auckland Airport and will be developed in a 50:50 partnership with Tainui Group Holdings. As part of this agreement, Auckland Airport has increased its ownership stake in the Novotel hotel to 50%. “The partnership with Tainui Group Holdings and AccorHotels has been very successful and we are pleased to be extending this relationship to another hotel project,” says Thomson. Construction is expected to start by the end of this year, with the hotel scheduled to open by late 2019. By this time, Auckland Airport’s international terminal will have undergone significant expansion and work will already be underway on the domestic section of our future combined domestic and international terminal. Auckland Airport is currently investing more than $1 million every working day on infrastructure improvements, and expects this level of investment will likely continue into the near future. 17
Pictured are Tania Simpson (TGH Director), Tukoroirangi Morgan (Te Arataura member and TGH Director), Kiingi Tuheitia (with ceremonial shovel), Chris Joblin (CEO, TGH), Hemi Rau (Te Arataura member and TGH Director) and Rahui Papa (Chairman Te Arataura).
Ruakura is a Go! For Waikato-Tainui
28 March 2017 marked an exciting turning point for the tribe. Over 120 people attended the whakatau and karakia before the first soil was turned by Kiingi Tuheitia for Ruakura Inland Port.
Breaking ground was a major event for Waikato-Tainui with members from Te Arataura present, our Tangata Whenua working group, WaikatoTainui staff, Tainui Group Holdings Staff, the Chair of Te Whakakitenga o Waikato, key business partners such as Fulton Hogan and Tonkin & Taylor. Following the blessing, initial earthworks will begin for the first seven hectares of the inland port. Ruakura is a long-term 480 hectare development by TGH, a kaitiaki (guardian) of the commercial assets of Waikato-Tainui. Ruakura is situated on the eastern side of Hamilton, around three kilometres from the CBD. It will become New Zealand’s largest integrated logistics, commercial and lifestyle development. The core of the development is the 31 hectare inland port offering ‘port neutrality’ to the seaports of Auckland and Tauranga through excellent transport connections including the East Coast Main Trunk Line and full diamond interchange to the new Waikato Expressway set for completion in 2020. Adjacent to the inland port there will be an extensive logistics precinct to accommodate a range of substantial warehouse and distribution businesses. Beyond this are proposed precincts for light industry, innovation, residential and retail activities with around 50 hectares of green space for amenity, environmental protection and recreation. This development supports the Waikato-Tainui Strategic blueprint Whakatupuranga 2050 Ngaa Tohu, Whai Rawa, Hapouri and Taiao in terms of generating wealth for the tribe for this generation and the next. Creating job opportunities for our mokapuna in the future in a number of exciting sectors. As well as working with our whenua to ensure we are creating sustainable environments which includes 50 hectares of greenspace and cycleways/walkways for our whaanau to enjoy.
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Corey-James aims for the top More than 5000 Maaori play soccer in Aotearoa and Corey-James Grimmer of Te Papa o Rotu Marae is one of them. Te Hookioi reports. Corey-James Grimmer started playing soccer at the age of four and his love and passion for the sport has continued to grow. The 15-year-old Whakatane High School student says it’s the challenge, the competitiveness and the sport’s high intensity that excites him. “I love the thrill and rush of playing high performance sport,” says Corey. “I love the adrenaline rush.” Chasing that thrill has seen Corey climb the soccer ranks as he’s represented the Eastern Bay of Plenty and Waikato Bay of Plenty regions at national tournaments. “Being able to play at national representative level meant I had to attend a series of trials at Matamata and Cambridge which also involved football camps during the school holidays,” says Corey. “Trials required us to have strong determination, responsibility, discipline, a positive attitude, selfcontrol, exceptional football skills, a willingness to make sacrifices with strict training and nutrition programmes, and to basically be an example of hauora – aa-tinana, aawairua hoki.” Needless to say, playing top level soccer requires a lot of commitment which for Corey also meant travelling from Whakatane to Cambridge twice a week for training. “Game days were most weekends too and held in either Auckland or Cambridge.” He says, “Competitions are very hard and test my stamina and concentration. At the nationals for WaiBop, we had a game every day of the tournament, making it difficult mentally and physically to maintain the high performance level of skills expected at this level.” Admittedly challenging, Corey
Above: Corey-James Grimmer. Photo credit: Whakatane Beacon
says, “I’m inspired and driven by my passion for the game and encouraged by achieving the best outcome I can for myself and my team.” So with an attitude like that, it comes as no surprise that Corey’s also been accepted into the National Sporting Recruitment Agency (NSR) – a pretty big deal as it opens him up for a scholarship to play soccer at a university in America. “Fortunately, as part of the NSR programme I have access to a high performance sports manager who provides me with various training programmes which I do before school, in the evening and in the weekends,” says Corey. “They mostly involve strength training, running, stretching and technical practice specific to my sport.” He says the best part of playing football is getting to know new
people. “Forming relationships with coaches and team mates from all over New Zealand is awesome as they have so much knowledge and experience to offer,” says Corey. “I also love the cool vibe of playing football, it keeps me busy and out of trouble.” For Corey, his ultimate goal is to play for the New Zealand All Whites and to also become a professional football player. “My role models are Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar. That’s the level and standard I’m aiming for.” He also hopes to be an inspiration to other rangatahi by inspiring them to follow their dreams “no matter how big or small”. But in the meantime, Corey says, “I’ll keep striving to improve more and more and keep aiming to achieve my ultimate goals while also making my whaanau, friends and iwi proud.”
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Long-awaited upgrade for Rukumoana Marae Nestled in the heartland of Ngaati Hauaa is Rukumoana Marae – a proud yet understated marae that is steeped in history. Te Hookioi reports. As one of the primary marae of the Ngaati Werewere hapuu, Rukumoana Marae is home to Te Tumuakitanga o te Kiingitanga so for the marae whaanau, they were keen to do a refurbishment that enhanced and upheld the integrity of the marae. Boycie Kukutai, Chairman of the Rukumoana Marae Trustee Committee, says over the years the marae whaanau have been slowly upgrading their marae facilities, but their tupuna whare, Werewere has always been its main priority. Established at its current site in 1912, Werewere is the oldest tupuna whare of Ngaati Hauaa. It’s believed to have originally stood at Maungakawa from about 1880 to 1900, explains Boycie. From there it was moved to Maungatautari and then again to Te Au o Waikato, a land block near the Topehaehae Awa and not far from where it currently stands at Rukumoana Marae. “Te Au o Waikato is just at the back of the marae here, but that particular site was prone to flooding because of the swampy terrain and being near the Topehaehae Awa so the old people decided to move it (Werewere) here. They just picked him up and put him back together again,” says Boycie. For that reason, preserving the original character of Werewere was a must for the marae whaanau which meant their year-long refurbishment project wasn’t without its challenges. “Most of the old people have all gone, there’s only one person left and she’s a kuia
going on 90 I think and we were using her memory to make sure we got things right.” Boycie says, as he points to the beams of the whare, “All this, all over here, is all original, and the pou. We also kept all the old nooks to keep with the character of the whare so for us it wasn’t about being flash. “Werewere be 105 years this year and he feels as good as new.” The Werewere refurbishment included the raising of the whare floor; added insulation and heating; painting and restoration work; and, the filling of any gaps to ensure the heat stayed in and any rodents stayed out. And any bits and pieces removed from Werewere, were buried in keeping with tikanga, explains Boycie. Along with the refurbishment of Werewere, an upgrade was made to the marae ablution block, followed by a refurbishment of their wharekai, Rangitakahia. “After Werewere we learnt what not to do so we were prepared when it came to Rangitakahia,” says Boycie. Working with the Waikato-Tainui Marae Development Team on the refurbishment project for Rangitakahia, Boycie says, the team listened to what the whaanau wanted, making the project easygoing. So easy-going, that the Rangitakahia project was completed within a couple of months. Refurbishments to Rangitakahia included an upgrade of its roof, painting of interior and exterior walls, and polishing and repainting of the wharekai floor. Improvements were also made to the marae driveway access along with two accessible carparks near the wharekai, anti-slip coating for all
ramps, stairs and entrance ways, and signage installed around the marae for health and safety identification, refurbishment of extinguishers, a portable microphone/speaker system and raised bedding. An upgrade to the marae kitchen facilities is still to come. Terence Maru, part of the Marae Development Team, says, “We spent a lot of time making sure everyone – contractors, suppliers, you name it, everyone that was involved in the project knew that it was the marae whaanau that was the win so we did everything to make sure they were happy. If they’re happy, then to me, the project is a success.” And Boycie says, along with a nodding of his head and a cheeky grin, “We’re happy.” So, what’s next for the whaanau at Rukumoana Marae. “We want to look at extending Rangitakahia and we’re also looking at establishing a papa kainga, but that’s way down in the future.” But until then, Boycie says, the whaanau will continue to uphold their vision for Rukumoana Marae, Kia manaaki i te tangata i roto i te whakaaro kotahi Kia whaangai i te iwi ahakoa ko wai Kia mau ki te Tumuakitanga o te Kiingitanga i roto i te tuumanako me te whakapono o te Atua To welcome all cultures and religions in the spirit of peace and unity To sustain the wellbeing of our people and treat one another as you would yourself To maintain our spiritual obligations in faith, truth and the law of God
Pictured left: We also kept all the old nooks to keep with the character of the whare so for us it wasn’t about being flash — Boycie Kukutai, Chairman - Rukumoana Marae.
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whanake te reo: TALENT COMPETITION TO INSPIRE WAIKATO-TAINUI TO CELEBRATE TE REO MAAORI
TAONGA PRESENTED TO THE TOP THREE PERFORMANCES
To register and for more info contact Maehe Paki: maehe.paki@tainui.co.nz Kiri Muntz: kiri.muntz@gmail.com or ring 0800 Tainui (0800 824 684)
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Tooku Nei Whare - Home Ownership Workshop Want to own your own home, but thought it was too hard or impossible? It may not be as out of reach as you thought! The Waikato-Tainui Home Ownership Workshops will educate you on how to get your deposit together, what’s available with Kiwisaver, Kiwisaver grants and home start grants and also how to engage in the real estate market place so you know what a good house is and what isn’t a good deal. 29 April Waipapa Marae 6 May Raungaiti Marae 17 May Kirikiriroa 20 May Kirikiriroa
Mei 23 Ngaati Pikiao Hune 18 Poohara Visit waikatotainui.com for more information
Apply online at waikatotainui.com/tribal-housing or contact the Waikato-Tainui Housing Team at housing@tainui.co.nz or call 0800 TAINUI Getting Ahead - Sorting Our Money and Seeing the Future Do you need help managing your money? We’re holding Good with Money workshops to assist people of all levels with money management. 9 May Kirikiriroa 11 May Kirikiriroa Apply online at waikatotainui.com/tribal-housing or contact the Waikato-Tainui Housing Team at housing@tainui.co.nz or call 0800 TAINUI
Main OFfice 4 Bryce Street, Hamilton Reception@tainui.co.nz Freephone 0800 TAINUI (0800 824 684) Office 07 858 0430 www.waikatotainui.com grants | SCHOLARSHIPS Jackie Haggie Jackie.Haggie@tainui.co.nz CAREERS HUB Kawena Jones Kawena.Jones@tainui.co.nz HOUSING
Te Reo Kaakaho Waananga reo programme targeted towards tribal members that are registered with one of the 68 Raupatu marae (16 years and over). Facilitated by Pouako from Tainui and will cover the following topics over the waananga: • Te Reo Oopaki; Kiiwaha; • Te Reo Tohutohu; Tohutohu moo te kainga, moo te mahi, moo te kura; • Te Reo Whakawhitiwhiti; He paatai, He whakautu, Kiianga; • Te Marae: He mihi, he pao, he tikanga. Waananga Tuatahi Waananga Tuarua
7 May 24 June
Tania Bidois Tania.Bidois@tainui.co.nz TRIBAL REGISTER Moera Solomon Moera.Solomon@tainui.co.nz EDUCATION Maehe Paki Maehe.Paki@tainui.co.nz
Contact Waikato-Tainui Reo & Maatauranga Advisor, Maehe Paki on 0800 TAINUI or email maehe.paki@tainui.co.nz 23