Huaki - March 2025 by NZME.

NgāpuhiVoices

ResonateatTeMatatini

Asthenation’smostprestigiouskapa hakafestival,TeMatatinibringstogether iwifromacrossAotearoainapowerful showcaseofmātauranga,tereo,andcultural pride.Thisyear,amongstthewaiata,haka, andwhanaungatanga,Ngāpuhivoices carriedmessagesofidentity,resilience,and connection.

Formany,TeMatatiniismorethana competition—itisaspacewhereMāori excellencethrives,aplatformforwhakapapa, andamomentforwhānautocelebratetheir sharedheritage.Kapahakawasrecognisedas acrucialpartofreclaimingidentity,withthe revitalisationofwaiataandmōteateaseenas essentialinstrengtheningtheconnectiontoTe WhareTapuoNgāpuhi.

Amongstthecelebrations,theNgāpuhiIwi SocialServices(NISS)podcastcrewprovided anopportunityforNgāpuhiperformersfrom differentkapahakagroupstosharetheir storiesandreflections.Itbecameaspacefor themtovoicetheiraspirations,acknowledge challenges,andcelebratetheirplacewithinte aoMāori.Thefestivalhighlightedthepresence ofNgāpuhiacrossallgroups,withmanyuri livingbeyondTeWhareTapu.CodiClarke reflected,“Thestatsshowmostofourpeople liveawayfromhome,butMatatinireminded usjusthowwidespreadNgāpuhiis.Nomatter whereweare,it’saspacewherewecanbe proudtobeNgāpuhi.”

Inalight-heartedandcreativemoment,the NISScrewintroducedanewhandsymbol

calledWhareTapuUp!—auniquegestureall aboutconnectionandwhānau.Thesymbolwas formedbyparticipantsshapingtheirhandsinto theshapeofawhare.Whensomeonecalled out“Wharetapuup!”thegrouprespondedby smoothlypullingtheirhandstogethertocreate thesymbol.Itbecameafunandmeaningful waytoexpressunity,addingatouchof playfulnesstothekaupapawhiledeepeningthe senseofwhanaungatanga.

Thesekōrero,recordedatTeMatatini,will continuetoresonatefarbeyondthefestival throughPodcasts.AsthevoicesofNgāpuhiare capturedandshared,theyarecontributing toabroadermovementofculturalrevival andconnection.

Inthespiritofthisongoingjourney,theNISS podcastcrewhasbeentravelingacross themotu,gatheringpowerfulkōrerofrom communitiesatvariousgatheringsandevents, andnowtheseNgāpuhivoicesarebeing broughttogethertosharewithwhānauacross Aotearoa.Staytunedforthelaunchofthe Ngāpuhipodcast,wherethevoicesfromTe Matatiniandbeyondwillbeheardbywhānau nationwide.

Allthelatestupdates: @teahuarekaongatihine

TERĀTUATAHI

P A R A IRE 28 T HM A E H E

Karakia&KōreroWhakatūwhera

TKKMoTaumārere(Teina)

MoerewaSchool(Teina)

KawakawaPrimarySchool(Teina)

ŌpuaSchool

TeMirumiruEarlyChildhoodCentre

NgāPurapura(TKR)

TeHoroSchool

TeKuraKaupapaMāorioKaikohe

MaromakuSchool

TKKMoTeRāwhitiroa

TeKāpehuWhetū

TKKMoTaumārere(Tuakana)

TeKuraoWaikare

MoerewaSchool(Tuakana)

TeKuraoMotatau

NgāHuiarauoKawakawa BayofIslandsCollege

KarakiaWhakamutunga

TERĀTUARUA

H A T A REI2 9 T H M A EHE

Karakia&KōreroWhaktūwhera WaerengaTeKaha

NgātiwaiKaumātuaKapaHaka ŌtiriaMarae

Mohinui(Waiomio)

Matawaia Muriwhenua

Tautohetohe/Whakangahau

Hātea

NgātiKawa,NgātiRāhiri,TeMatarahurahu

TePūAo

TeOrewaikiNgāiTai

NgātiHineHauora MotatauMarae

NgātiHinekiTāmaki PrizeGiving\NgātiHineHAKAUP! TJ&Huri(Band) Karakiawhakamutunga

TERĀTUATORU

R Ā T A PU30 TH M A E HE

Karakia|WelcomeinTūmatauenga Kaupapaoterā(Hineamaru)

ParakuihiiTePunaiKeteriki Theme:NgāKaioTeKauta

Entertainment:TeKupengaWhānau

ReturntoTūmatauenga HenareTiriPikauMahanga WhānauSpeakers

WhānauSpecialAcknowledgements

PoliticalPanelKōrero (Puttingitallonthetable)

TeĀhuarekaWorkingCommittee

KarakiaWhakamutunga

Thousandsexpected atTeĀhuarekao

NgātiHineFestival

NgātiHinearereadyingthemselvestohostthousandsofdescendants andcommunityatŌtiriaMarae,inMoerewa,fortheirbiennialNgāti HineFestival,beingheldthisweekfromFriday28–Sunday30March. tekūkupanews

“Weareexpectinghugecrowdstothe maraeandareexcitedtoseeourpeople comehometoMoerewa.Thisisa celebrationofallthingsNgātiHine,”says TapekaHenare,ChairofTeĀhuarekao NgātiHineCommittee.

Thefestivalthemethisyearis‘kakakatite namu’or‘thesandﬂynips’–encompassing thegreatlegacybyNgātiHineancestor,Te RukiKawiti.“Ourthemebringsintofocus theself-determinationandself-reliance thatweseekasNgātiHine,butalsohow wemustrespondandcounterthecurrent politicallandscapebeingbroughttobear onourpeople.”

Thefestivalwillseekapahakaaction onstagefromyoungandold,including kapawhorepresentedTeTaiTokerau attherecentTeMatatinifestivalinNew Plymouth.Tapekaencourageswhānauto attendthefreeevent,andsaysthelineupis a‘must-see’.

“ThiswillbetheﬁrsttimeMuriwhenua,Te PūAoandHāteawillperformbackhomein TeTaiTokerauforourpeople.”

Theprogrammeshowcaseslive entertainmentonthemainstageatOtiria Marae,amyriadofstalls,exhibitsand displaysaswellassportseventsincluding touchfootballatMoerewaSchoolandthe inauguralGolfTournamentattheWaitangi GolfCourse.

Thethree-dayfestivalwillattractaround ﬁvethousandpeople,manymakingthetrip fromaroundthecountry,aswellasfrom Australia.

EventManagers,HuhanaLyndonandHuru Tipeneareexcitedabouttheprogramme whichincludeslocalschools,kōhangareo andearlychildhoodcentresperformances onFriday28Marchandmaraekapahaka onSaturday29March.

TAONGAOTEAO

Hurusaysalltheperforminggroup members,frommokopunatokaumatua, hadbeenworkingextremelyhardon polishingtheirrepertoires,andwill deﬁnitelygivetheaudiencesomethingto cheeraboutastheyshowcasetheirskills on-stage.

HuhanasaystheTautohetohedebateat 12pmonSaturdayisapinnacleeventfor thefestivalandNgātiHinewasfortunate tohavesomeofthebestdebatersinte reo,includingTeamCaptainsWaihoroi ShortlandandPierreLyndon-renowned fortheirwit,humourandcuttingtruisms.

SundaymorningwillfeatureaNgātiHine traditionaleatsbreakfastfollowedbya

symposiumproﬁlingthelifeofasigniﬁcant NgātiHinelocalidentity.Thisyear,the TangataRongonuispotlightisonHenare Mahanga,whofoundedtheoriginalNgāti HineFestival.

Sunday’spoliticalpanelwillbefacilitated byFarNorthMayorMokoTepaniawith guestsGrantMcCallum,MaramaDavidson, MariamenoKapaKingiandWillowJean Primesharingtheirthoughtsandopinions onthecurrentpoliticallandscape.

WhilethefestivalhasaNgātiHinebrand, theCommitteearewelcomingattendees, includingkaumatuaandkuia,fromacross TeTaiTokerautoattendandenjoythe festivities.“Naumai,haeremai.”

NORTHLAND owned,focusedandoperatedaccountingﬁrm providingservicesin:

CelebratingExcellence:The2025TeTaitokerauMāori BusinessExcellenceAwardsbroughttoyoubyTe HiringaCharitableTrustandBusinessPromotionsLtd, acknowledgesallapplicants,nominations,winners,supporters, andIndustryLeaders.

Heldon7March2025itwasanunforgettablecelebration ofinnovation,leadership,anddedicationacrossindustry andcommunities.Theeventhonouredtheoutstanding businessesandindividualswhohavedemonstratedexceptional achievements,settingnewstandardsforsuccessandinspiringthe nextgenerationofleaders.

Thisyear’sawardsceremonybroughttogetheradistinguished groupofindustryexperts,andsupporterswhohavecontributedto thecontinuedgrowthandprosperityofbusinessesintheregion. Withcategoriesspanningfromexcellenceincustomerservice andinnovationtoleadershipandsustainability,theawards recognizedthosewhoseachievementshaveshapedthefutureof theeconomywecontributeto.

“Theawardshighlighttheindividualachievementsofourwinners butalsounderscorethecollectivestrengthandcollaboration ofallthosewhosupportthem.Itisareminderoftheincredible talentandinnovationthatdrivesprogressinourcommunities.”

saidAprilErueti,ChairofTeHiringaCharitableTrustandBusiness PromotionsLtd.

Totherecipientbusinessownersandleaderswhowerejudged bestintheirfieldyourfamilies,yourstaffandthecommunities whohelpmakeyoushine,congratulationstoyouall!

PitaTipene recognisedwith TeTaiTokerau MāoriBusiness LeaderAward tekūkupanews

PitaTipene(NgātiHine)wasthe recipientofthisyear’sMāoriBusiness LeaderawardattherecentTeTai TokerauMāoriBusinessawards heldinWhangāreilastmonth.Theaward acknowledgesoutstandingbusiness leadershipandrecogniseshisextensive contributionstogovernance,community leadership,andeconomicdevelopment. Hisworkspansiwi,hapū,andregional organisations,withafocusonlong-term sustainabilityandadvocacy.

Since2003,Pitahasplayedapivotalroleinthe revitalisationofMotatauMarae,overseeing thedemolitionandreconstructionofits facilities,includingthewharekaiandablution block.Theproject,completedin2009,was supportedbysigniﬁcantfundraisingeﬀorts spearheadedbyPita,whocontinuestochair themaraecommitteeafter21years.

Hisgovernanceexperienceincludestwo decadesaschairofNgātiHineForestryTrust, thelargestahuwhenuainTeTaiTokerau, wherehehasguidedassetgrowthand diversiﬁcation,includingkiwifruitorchardsand aCrownforestrypartnership.Thetrusthas alsofundedsocialinitiatives,suchasmarae grants,educationsupport,andkaumātua assistance.

PitahasbeeninvolvedintheWaitangiTribunal claimssince2010,presentingevidencefor NgātiHineandNgāpuhihapū. Heco-chairedtheorganisingcommittee fortheTePaparahioTeRakihearings,

PitaTipeneacceptstheMāoriBusinessLeaderAward attheTaiTokerauBusinessAwardsinWhangārei organisedbyTeHiringaTrust&BusinessPromotions. Credit:TeHiringaTrust&BusinessPromotions

whichexaminedsovereigntyunderHe WhakaputangaandTeTiritioWaitangi.The 2014Tribunalreportmarkedaturningpoint fortheNgāpuhiclaims.

AschairoftheWaitangiNationalTrustfor eightyears,Pitahascontributedtoshifting publicengagementwithWaitangiDay, encouragingbroaderparticipation,particularly amongtaitamariki.Hisleadershipextends tomultipletrusts,includingTeKōtahitanga oNgāHapūNgāpuhi,TeRuapekapekaTrust andNgātiHineFM.

Beyondgovernance,Pitahassupportedthe establishmentofregionalorganisationslike TeHuingaandTeKarearea,encouraginghapū representationinlocaldecision-making.He maintainsastrongpresenceinlocalhāpori discussions,engagingwithgovernment oﬃcialstoadvocateforTeTaiTokerau resources.

HeidiMackey,CEOofNgātiHineForestry Trust,saysPita’sdeservingoftheaccolade, particularlygivenhisongoingcommitment tovoluntaryserviceunderscoreshisfocus onoutcomesoverpersonalgain.Heidisays hisinﬂuenceextendstomentoringemerging leadersandparticipatinginindigenousand economicforumsasakeynotespeaker,in NewZealandandinternationally.

MAHIAATUA MARKKOPUA,DIANAKOPUA ANDLISACHERRINGTON

MahiaAtuaisaMāoriwellbeing frameworkbasedaround storytelling.GroundedinaMāori world view,thisapproachisdesignedtofoster transformationandsystemicchange andindigenisepractices,institutionsand personalandprofessionalspaces.

Theknowledge,messagesandprinciples withinpūrākau(Māoricreationstories) sparkconversationsaimedatpromoting wellbeing,consciousnessraisingand healing.Bydrawingonthecustoms andstoriesofMāoriatua,welearnhow ancestorsinterpretedtheworld,givingusa pathwaytounderstanding,connection andchangeinourlivesandthelives ofothers.Throughtellingourownlife stories,alongsidetraditionalpūrākau,we canreimaginehowweliveintheworld andnavigatechallenges,basedinMāori

ThePoutōPātaka KaiProject

ThePoutōlakes,rareandthreatened ecosystems,haveseenthedeclineof taongaspecieslikekēwai(freshwater crayﬁsh),mullet,tuna(eel),andkākahi (freshwatermussel).Traditionalplant foodsthatoncethrivedinthewetland marginsarenowrestrictedtoafew locations.Thelossofthesekai(food) specieshighlightstheinterconnectedness betweenecosystemhealthandcultural sustenance.Addressingthisrequires restoringhabitatsandtraditionalfood sources,particularlyinPoutō,and fosteringconnectionsacrossthewider peninsulatoreducesedimentationinto theKaiparaMoana.

ThePoutōPātakaKaiprojectisa whakatauira(casestudy)foraKōreroTuku Iho-basedrestorationplan,focusingon thePoutōlakesandsurroundingareas. Theplanaimstoreducesedimentand improvethehealthoftheKaiparaMoana, aligningwithbroaderremediationgoals. Itisintendedforthewhakatauiratobe resourcedaspartoftheKōreroTuku Ihoprojecttoinformamethodologyfor

mātaurangaMāorifortheKaiparaMoana Remediation(KMR).ManagedbyEnvirons HoldingsLtd,theprojectisrootedin theobjectives,valuesandgovernance ofTeUrioHau,whilealsofacilitating seamlessintegrationwiththebroader KMRinitiatives.Themajorityoftheselakes arelocatedeitheronprivately(including Māori)ownedfarmlandorforestry blocks,theyarealllinkedunderground andconsequentlyaretreatedasone system,theprojectsmainfocuswillbeon theseﬁvelakes:Rototuna,Humuhumu, Rotokawau,KanonoandKahuparere. EnvironswillhostawānangaatWaikaretu MaraeonApril5thand6th,focusedon therestorationvisionforthePoutōlakes. Dayonewillexploretheproject’sgoals andothergloballakerestorationeﬀorts, whiledaytwowillinvolvevisitingtwo lakes,discussingchallenges,andplanning nextsteps.RSVPtoAlyssceTeHuna, KaiwhakahaerePātakakaiPoutōlakes alyssce.tehuna@uriohau.co.nzbyMarch 16th2025.

Toenter,allyouneed todoissendyourname andcontactdetails,with MAHIAATUAinthe subjectline,to huaki@nzme.co.nz

THEAUTHORS

MarkKopua (TeAitangaaHauiti,NgātiIra, NgātiPorou)iscofounderand co-directorofTeKurahuna, whichprovidestrainingand ongoingdevelopmentforthose workingwithMahiaAtua.Mark isahistorian,mastercarver andtāmokoexponent.Hehas beenontheboardofToiMāori andinvolvedindeterminingthe provenanceofartefacts.Along withasmallnumberofother mokoartists,hehasspearheaded theresurgenceoftāmoko.

DianaKopua (NgātiPorou)isco-founderand co-directorofTeKurahuna.She originallytrainedasanurseand thenapsychiatrist. TheMahiaAtuaapproach underpinnedTeKūwatawataand TeHiringaMatuaservices,for whichDianawastheclinical leadduringtheirdevelopment andimplementation.Now,she usesMahiaAtuatohelppeople transformandindigenisetheir ownpracticesandspaces.

LisaCherrington (Ngāpuhi)trainedasaclinical psychologistandbeganworking withMahiaAtuawhileatTe WhareMarie.Shejoined TeKurahunain2022anduses thepowerofstoriesoftheatua inherwork.Lisaisalsoanovelist andscriptwriter.

FarmmanagerJeﬀBradlyislookingforward toawinterplantingsessionwithaheap ofŌtakaniniTōpūIncorporation’s1000plusshareholders.

Heisalsokeentoshowcasemoreofthe 1560hasheepandbeefunitatSouthHead, nearHelensville,andletshareholders knowaboutongoingdevelopmentand improvementplansfortheblock.

Jeﬀandhisteamcurrentlyrun600Angus breedingcows,4000Romneyewesand1000 hoggetsonthepastoralareaofthewhenua. Duringthespringandsummermonthsof 2024and2025theIncorporation’sfocushas beenonfencingtoprotectsacredareasofthe maunga,erodiblehillsidesandwaterways.

Jeﬀsaysaround1.2kmofsevenwirepostand battenfencinghasbeencompleted,andin partnershipwithKaiparaMoanaRemediation, theaimistoplantaround2000nativesacross foursitesthiswinter–allareaswhichleadfrom thefarmdowntotheKaiparaMoanaitself.

Adecadeago,similarmahiwasundertaken withtheIntegratedKaiparaHarbour ManagementGroupandtheresultsofthat workarecleartoseeintheﬂourishingnatives alongsideapristinewaterway.

ThewholeŌtakaniniTōpūteamunderstand implicitlythechallengesoffarminginthearea andtheyarecommittedtotheKMRkaupapa andrestorationoftheenvironmentforthe beneﬁtoftheKaiparaMoana.

Havinggrownuponaneighbouringfarm, whichJeﬀnowowns,hehasagoodgrasp onenvironmentalchallengesduetoweather eventslikeCycloneGabriellewhichdidplenty ofdamagetotheŌtakaniniTōpūblock,

TheWhenuaWhānuiFundoffers:

includingwashingoﬀasubstantialamountof sandandsoilfromtherollinglandscape.

Therepairofthatdamagewillbeginwith plantingnativesbyŌtakaniniTōpū’sfarmstaﬀ andshareholders.Itwillbethestartofamultiyearfencingandplantingprogrammetohelp reducesiltationfromthefarmintotheKaipara Moanaandcreatealegacyforcurrentand futuregenerationsoftamarikiandrangitahi.

KMR’sWhenuaWhānuiFundsupports landownersandgroupstocreatesediment reductionprojectsintheKaiparaMoana catchment.TheFundisaimedatcollectives includinghapū,marae,kaitiakigroups, landcaregroups,catchmentgroups,trusts administeringlandwithmultipleownership includingahuwhenuatrusts.

ThroughtheWhenuaWhānuiFund,KMRisnow workingtosupport91collectively-ledprojects toco-designaproject,developaplantounlock KMRfunding,leaddeliveryofaprojectorwhere projectshavebeencompleted.

FormoreinformationabouthowtheWhenua WhānuiFundcansupportyouraspirationsfor thewhenua,getintouchwithKMRvia hono@kmr.org.nzorapplyviathewebsiteat https://kmr.org.nz/application/

KMRsupportsgroupstoprotect andrestoretheKaiparaMoana

KaiparaMoanaRemediation’sWhenua WhānuiFundsupportsgroupsto participateinprojectsthatprotectthe KaiparaMoana.

Ourprojectssupportpeople,places,and nature.KMRinvestsinprojectstorestore wetlands,fenceoffriversandstreams, planttreesandregenerateforeston erosion-proneland.

Ourprojects:

•Helpvaluedspeciestothrive

•Restoremahingakai

•Diversifyon-farmincome

•Helpmeetenvironmentalstandards

•Increaseresiliencetostormsand extremeweather

TheWhenuaWhānuiFundisopento allgroupsincludingiwi/hapū,marae, landcaregroups,catchmentgroups, kaitiaki,schoolsandtrustsadministering landwithmultpleownership.

•ASiteVisit-aKMRFieldAdvisorwalksthewhenuawithyoutounderstandyour aspirationsandsedimentreductionoptionsandpriorities.

•ProjectFunding–KMRcanfundupto70%oftheestimatedprojectworks includingfencing,sitepreparation,plantingandplantreleasecosts.

•ASedimentReductionPlan–yourFieldAdvisorpreparesaPlantounlockKMR funding.Onceacontractissigned,themahicanbeginandafirstinstalment invoicedandpaid.

•Communityengagementandprojectmanagement–KMRcanassistwithsome ofthecostsofrunningyourproject.

•Advice&Support–yourFieldAdvisorcanassistyouthroughtheprojecttohelp themahistayontrack.

Ifyouarethinkingaboutplantingnearwaterwaysoronerodiblehillsidesthis winter,getintouchwithKMRassoonaspossible.

OtamateaHighSchoolBusiness StudentsVisitTeAraiNatives

Lastweek,wehadthepleasureofhosting 52studentsfromOtamateaHighSchool’s Business&EconomicsclassatTeArai Natives.Thevisitwasanopportunityfor thestudentstogainreal-worldinsightsinto runningabusiness,makingﬁnancialdecisions, andunderstandingtheoperationsbehinda nativeplantnursery.

Tokeepthingsengaging,thestudentswere splitintotwogroups.Onegroupjoinedme foradiscussiononthebusinesssideofthe nursery,wheretheyaskedpre-prepared questionscoveringtopicssuchasﬁnancial planning,riskmanagement,andthe challengesofrunningasmallbusiness.Itwas greattoseethemthinkingcriticallyandasking sometough,well-thought-outquestions.

Meanwhile,theothergroupwentonanursery tourwithJaiya.Theygotabehind-the-scenes lookathowwegrowandcarefornativeplants, theproductionprocessesinvolved,andthedayto-dayoperationsofthenursery.Afterabout 45minutes,thegroupsswapped,ensuringthat everyonegotawell-roundedexperienceofboth thebusinessandoperationalaspectsofTeArai Natives.

Itwasfantastictoseesomuchcuriosityand enthusiasmfromthestudents.Engagingwith youngpeoplewhoarekeentolearnabout businessandsustainabilityisalwaysrewarding, andwehopetheytookawayvaluablelessons fromtheirvisit.

AbigthankyoutoOtamateaHighSchoolfor includingusintheirlearningjourney!

Mangawhaiandsurroundingareas,Autumnishere,andit’stheperfect timetogetyourgardenintopshape!

DropbyTeAraiNativeNurserytodiscussbestpracticesforgarden maintenance,includinghowtousesheep’swooltolockinmoistureand careforyournativeplants.Ourteamisheretohelpyougrowathriving, sustainablegardenthisseason.