Issuu

Huaki

“To

Edition 26

bring to Light”

Building the Future: Reﬂections from the National Māori Housing Conference 2025

The National Māori Housing Conference 2025 at Waitangi marked a powerful turning point for Māori led housing Over three days, voices from across Aotearoa and the world gathered on Ngāpuhi whenua to share solutions, restore connections, and strengthen the collective drive to build homes rooted in whakapapa

From the outset, the conference carried a tone of collaboration and momentum Te Matapihi and the Ngāpuhi Group led a well organised and culturally grounded event that balanced policy discussions with community driven kōrero The pōhiri at Te Tii Marae and the workshops across Te Whare Rūnanga and Waitaha Conference Centre reminded attendees that true housing solutions begin with whakapapa and mana whenua

During the pōhiri, the taumata spoke of the need for Māori to return their skills and pūkenga to their hapū and iwi A wero was laid, challenging Māori housing professionals to ensure that the knowledge and kōrero shared throughout the conference would not end as talk alone, but lead to tangible outcomes that beneﬁt the people This message set a powerful tone that carried through the following days of discussions and presentations

A highlight was the strong line up of international speakers who brought a global Indigenous lens to housing and design Their perspectives reinforced that the challenges faced by Māori are shared across many Indigenous nations, yet so too are the strengths, creativity, and resilience found in community led approaches

One of the most inspiring shifts was the visible growth of taitamariki representation The number of Māori under 30 engaging in kōrero,

Local pakihi had space and representation throughout the event, adding to its sense of community and connectedness Their involvement underscored the importance of supporting Māori enterprise as an integral part of the housing conversation

Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services (NISS) Haukainga aravan was onsite capturing oughout the conference The team reﬂections on what housing means oday, from papakāinga aspirations ble housing for whaikaha Māori. This ng whaikaha representation added iscussions, ensuring accessibility entral to both design and policy

C also provided a valuable ty to connect with others across the While some new relationships were

formed, the real strength was in reconnecting and deepening existing partnerships In the busyness of everyday work it is rare to have genuine space to kōrero, reﬂect, and listen The conference created that space, reinforcing the importance of collaboration over competition and highlighting how much more can be achieved when people work together

Delivering a conference of thi without major event infrastru the strength of relationships a Tokerau It was a testament to achieved when communities, kaupapa driven teams work t shared purpose

Perhaps the most encouragin has been the ripple eﬀect tha Hapū have already begun tak

Te Pae O Uta: A New Pathway of Support for Whānau in the Family Court

Ngāpuhi iwi gathered in Kaikohe this week to mark the full launch of Te Pae O Uta, a new iwi led service designed to stand with whānau as they navigate the Family Court The kaupapa sits at the heart of what matters most to Ngāpuhi, centred on the safety of tamariki, the conﬁdence of whānau, and ensuring people are not left to navigate the court system unsupported

The journey towards this service has been gradual and deliberate, beginning with a testing phase under the national Te Ao Mārama initiative Through that process, Ngāpuhi Iwi Social Services (NISS) kaimahi worked closely with the Ministry of Justice, local judges, lawyers and community partners to understand where whānau were falling through the gaps and what practical, culturally grounded support would genuinely help whānau

Te Pae O Uta is the response to that collective eﬀort.

Whether it is preparing whānau before they step into the courtroom, supporting them through proceedings, or helping them reconnect to whakapapa and wider services, the service focuses on strengthening conﬁdence and understanding at each stage It ensures whānau can participate in a way that is clear and informed, and shaped by practices that make sense for them

name Te Pae O Uta was shared at Ōkorihi Marae by NISS Board Member Tipene KapaKingi In his kōrero, he drew on the depth of the Nuku Tāwhiti karakia and reﬂected on how its imagery continues to guide Ngāpuhi thinking today He spoke to the way these ancient kupu sit naturally alongside the organisational

concepts of ngarunui, ngaruroa and ngarupaewhenua, which shape the NISS ﬁve year strategy This connection gives the service a strong foundation and ensures the name reﬂects its purpose clearly

A signiﬁcant moment of the launch came with the presentation of Te Pae O Waho, a carved taonga gifted by Chief District Court Judge Heemi Taumaunu on behalf of the District Court and the Ministry of Justice The taonga acknowledges the unique partnership between Ngāpuhi Iwi, NISS and the justice sector, recognising that meaningful change happens when community and system sit alongside one another.

Dr Moana Eruera, Chief Executive of NISS, emphasised that for many whānau the court environment can feel overwhelming. Te Pae O Uta has been created to shift that experience – giving whānau space to ask questions, understand their rights, and contribute their own solutions Central to that vision is a focus on early, preventative support to reduce

the number of tamariki enteringthe and protectio system

As Te Ao Mārama continues its work across Aotearoa, th establishmen of Te Pae O U reflects what can happen when iwi exp and the justi with a unified purpose For Kaikohe and the wider Ngāpuhi rohe, it marks a practical step toward a system that better reflects the needs of whānau

Wooaah, and the hits just keep on coming… Kia kaha, Tai Tokerau!

What a time to be Māori, not just in business, but in this climate, in this environment, with all the economic shifts and the endless politicking. There’s a lot moving around us, and yet our people continue to show up, to innovate, to cultivate and hold ﬁrm. But really I want to keep pushing for you to be a part of the opportunities that are in the pipeline.

Lately, I’ve been reﬂecting on where the karanga comes from for each of us

Whether as a business owner, a whānau member, a hapū and iwi contributor, or simply as ourselves What drives you right now? What keeps you steady when everything else feels uncertain?

This season has reminded us how important it is to stay connected, to each other, to purpose, and to the kaupapa that give our mahi meaning Weve seen powerful examples of that this month: from our Te Tiriti wānanga in Kaikohe, to our kōrero with Kimalana Phelan, to Jaki’s beautiful mahi blending NLP and mātauranga Māori to help us look after our wellbeing And of course, our ongoing mahi with Te Whatu Ora, creating pathways for pakihi Māori to contribute to the Whangārei hospital build, a model of collaboration that

can ripple across the motu

To all our new pakihi who’ve joined the whānau these past months, nau mai, haere mai Dive in, use Te Hapori, and get amongst it There’s a place for you here, and were stronger with you in it

As we head into December, there are a few exciting opportunities to connect, celebrate, and close out the year together Wed love to see you, share kai, and acknowledge the mahi you’ve put in

He wā nui tēnei, let’s keep leaning in, holding tight to each other, and remembering why we do what we do

Ngā manaakitanga, Talia

The

Turning 58? Time to Bowel Screen

Free bowel screening now starts at age 58 in Northland. It ﬁnds cancers early when they can often be successfully

The bowel is part of the digestive system connecting the stomach to the anus (bottom) and helping waste (poo) leave the body It includes the small bowel, large bowel (colon) and rectum. Bowel canceralso called colon, rectal or colorectal cancer

- begins when cells in the bowel grow out of control These may form polyps (growths), and some polyps can turn into cancer over time This process usually takes years Regular bowel screening for people without symptoms can help detect and treat bowel cancer at an early stage

The National Bowel Screening Programme is a free initiative designed to help detect bowel cancer early As of 6 October 2025, the starting age for participation has been lowered from 60 to 58 years in Northland The programme now oﬀers free screening every two years to people aged 58 to 74 who are eligible for publicly funded health care

Those eligible to take part will be sent:

• an invitation letter

• a consent form

• a free bowel screening test kit, with instructions on how to use it

The test is done at home and is simple to do

What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?

Common symptoms of bowel cancer may include:

• a change in your normal bowel habit that continues for several weeks

• blood in your bowel motion

Although these symptoms are usually caused by other conditions, it’s important to get them checked Bowel screening is for people who don’t have symptoms of bowel cancer If you have any bowel symptoms that concern you, discuss these with your doctor Don’t wait to receive free bowel screening test

How common is bowel cancer?

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world Bowel cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand The Bowel Cancer NZ Atlas states that about 3,300 New Zealanders are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year and more than 1 200 die from it.

Who is at most risk?

Bowel cancer is more common in those over the age of 60 years You can reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer by:

• having a healthy diet high in fruit,

‘We’re doing this for ourselves and ourwhānau’

vegetables and ﬁbre

• maintaining a healthy weight

• being alcohol-free

• being smoke-free

If you have had extensive inﬂammatory bowel disease, or have a family history of bowel cancer, you may have a higher risk of developing bowel cancer Talk to your doctor

Why is regular bowel screening important?

There may be no warning signs that you have bowel cancer However bowel screening every two years can help save lives A positive test is usually followed by a colonoscopy which can ﬁnd bowel cancer at an early stage, when it can often be successfully treated Polyps (growths) may also be detected These are not cancer, but they may develop into a cancer over a number of years Most polyps can be easily removed at colonoscopy, reducing the risk that bowel cancer will develop

What is the bowel screening test?

The test used by the National Bowel Screening Programme is a faecal immunochemical test (FIT)

It can detect tiny traces of blood present in a small sample of your bowel motion (poo) This may be an early warning sign that something is wrong with your bowel You do the test yourself in your own home

How do I do the test?

Do the test as soon as possible It is imp to do your test within six months of rec the kit The laboratory can’t process tes have passed their expiry date. To do the you need to:

• collect a small sample from your b motion (poo) using the test stick, a into the tube

• put the sample in the zip-lock bag, with the dated and completed con form

• post it as soon as possible in the re envelope provided or drop it oﬀ at nearest Awanui Lab

Keep the sample in a cool place It does to be kept in the fridge Post the test on same day or the next day as delays cou your sample

How will I get my result?

You will be contacted with your result a what this means for you You may also call from your doctor or a nurse

What happens if my bowel screening result is positive?

A positive result means there may be b your poo, and further investigation is ne

Youll usually be referred for a colonoscopy, which allows doctors to look inside your bowel A positive test doesn’t necessarily mean cancer in many cases, it’s not but it’s important to ﬁnd out

How successfully can bowel cancer be treated if I have it?

If you are found to have bowel cancer you will be referred to a specialist The main treatment for bowel cancer is surgery In some cases chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be recommended

People who are diagnosed with bowel cancer at an early stage have a much greater chance of being successfully treated If the cancer is detected at a later, more advanced stage, it is harder to treat

For more information about the National Bowel Screening programme:

• visit timetobowelscreen nz

• free phone 0800 924 432

• emailBowel Screening@northlanddhb org nz

• or talk to your doctor

If you’re aged 58 to 74, you may have already received your free bowel screening kit in the post Don’t put it aside do the test today

Don’t put it aside Bowel cancer often develops without symptoms, but early detection can make all the difference. The test is quick, easy, and done in the privacy of your own home.

Make sure to check the expiry date of your test and if you need a replacement kit or help Visit timetobowelscreen.nz Free phone 0800 924 432 or talk to your doctor

LASTMINUTEEGGSALAD

Ingredients:

• 8 eggs

• 2 avocados

• 2 carrots

• 2 tomatoes

• 1 cup of mozzarella cheese

• Salt and pepper

Method: Boil the eggs then chunkily cut, put into bowl, grate carrots, remove seeds from tomato and ﬁnely slice Put all into a salad bowl and mix with your favourite salad dressing Garnish with the avocado Easy lovely and gone within minutes

GLAZEDMUSSELS

• You need 20 fresh mussels in the shell

• Shuck the mussels from the shell, remove the hair of the mussel and completely remove the mussel ﬂesh then place back in a half shell.

• Layout the mussels in an oven tray and put into the oven at 150 degrees for 5 minutes.

• While baking, ﬁnely chop 4-5 cloves of garlic add 2Tbs of coconut cream 2Tbs of chilly sauce and2Tbs of cream and asqueeze of lemon in a

• Audit, Investigation & Forensic Research

• Ofﬁce of the Auditor General Approved

• Small to Medium Size Direct Business Support and

• Advisor to Maori Land Court

• Maori Business Advisory & Mentoring

bowl and mix

• Take mussels out of the oven and pour spoonfuls of the sauce over the mussels

• Top with mozzarella cheese then further bake for 5 minutes.

• Serve immediately

• Best sucked whole straight from the shell

• They’re delicious! Enjoy

Regent Training Centre: A Fresh Start for Far North Youth

Where young people ﬁnd conﬁdence, support and real pathways

Testimonial 1:

“I am a 16-year-old male and I attend RTC

When I was young I was adopted and lived with my adopted family who homeschooled me I was diagnosed at a young age with ADHD and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) This made it hard for me to learn and stay focused. Before I was adopted by my family I was abused and didn’t have a very good early life. I always found it hard to listen and concentrate which made learning hard for me.

Then I found my biological grandfather and two years after meeting him I went to live with him and my nana. They told me that I was going to start a course at RTC I was scared at ﬁrst because I had no idea what it was going to be like and was afraid I would be bullied or beaten up, I had no idea what I was in for. I have been at RTC for over a year now and everyone at RTC is like family. RTC has helped me with my social skills and creating friendships

I feel safe when I am at RTC, it’s like a second home. RTC has also helped me with my learning, I have learnt heaps of skills and my learning is always improving. I now know how to do most things in class and can keep up with everyone else. My tutor is a massive help, she has never given up on me, she is the best tutor I’ve ever had and thanks to her I have learnt so much

Hopefully, soon I will be moving into a diﬀerent course where I will further my skills and gain more knowledge Thanks, RTC for always having my back and helping me become the man I am becoming ”

Testimonial 2:

“I am 16 years old when I started with RTC and I attended the Literacy and Numeracy course while also attending the Hospitality course I completed the hospitality course in June 2025, and I am now doing the ICT course I enjoyed the hospitality course especially the coﬀee making and serving staﬀ and other students I decided to do the ICT course because computers are everywhere I felt it was important to build up my computer skills

I feel way more conﬁdent when dealing with other people, as I was always shy and kept to myself most of the time I really look forward coming to course – even if I am sick, I miss coming to RTC

My challenges at school were that I found it hard to make friends however, at RTC because it is a smaller environment, I feel comfortable and can talk to people and have made many friends ”

Testimonial 3:

I am 15 years old and when I was in primary school I loved going to school, but when I started at intermediate school, there were people I didn’t like so much and started to hate going to school

Then I went to high school and I started bunking school because I didn’t want to be there. The teachers didn’t understand me so I would get mad and swear at them and get myself in trouble Then when I turned 15 I got expelled from school. My friend who was already attending Regent Training Centre told me about the course and said I should try it out. So then I enrolled in Regent Training Centre and my attendance was better, I wanted to come every day and my writing and reading is improving all the time Even when I mucked up and got called into the oﬃce for doing something I shouldn’t have done, Regent Training Centre supported me and gave me another chance I want to show Regent Training Centre how grateful I am for being given another chance by passing my courses and coming every day I have made heaps of friends at Regent Training Centre and feel like I ﬁt in here better than at school

Testimonial 4:

Before I came to RTC, I wasn’t doing well at school I was rude and I was always getting

to brighter futures.

kicked out of class for yelling at my teachers

They all told me I was going nowhere in life My mum had, had enough and said she was going to take me to ﬁnd a course

She called RTC and we went to see them the next week I then enrolled not knowing what was in store for me./ The ﬁrst day I started I thought it was going to be dumb and just like school, but I was surprised at how good my ﬁrst day went and how much I liked it I like RTC a lot because they help me understand the work and make it a lot easier for me to learn

Testimonial 5:

Before I came to RTC, my attendance was terrible, drama everywhere, and I had no motivation to get up and go to school because I was going through stuﬀ at the time, so I really didn’t care about my social life or mental/ physical health but after a while I was stood down from school

I am now 15 and started getting myself together and started working on myself and eventually got better I started going out and doing better for myself and started RTC to get my life on track I feel like RTC can help me with my learning I want to learn skills in building, automotive, and also computing at RTC, so I can get a job

Passion for rangatahi and te taiao drives

Ngāti Rēhia’s climate action success

Ngāti Rēhia’s commitment to environmental stewardship, rangatahi empowerment and revitalising mātauranga Māori has earned them top honours at the Northland Business Excellence Awards

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia won the 2025 Excellence in Sustainability and Climate Action Award at Whangarei’s McKay Stadium on November 7

Sponsored and judged by Northland Regional Council, the award recognises businesses making measurable strides in environmental responsibility and climate resilience

Judges praised Ngāti Rēhia’s holistic, futurefocused approach “grounded in mātauranga Māori and community leadership,” noting their mahi in ecosystem restoration, waterway protection, sustainable housing and rangatahi empowerment.

Ngāti Rēhia kuia Nora Rameka said fostering rangatahi capability and intergenerational knowledge-sharing was central to their vision

“We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition as it reﬂects the collective eﬀort of our hapū, whānau and especially our rangatahi, who stand as guardians of the taiao,” she said

“This celebration is not just about awards – it’s about recognising the heart and soul of Ngāti Rēhia and how together, we uplift each other and carry our legacy forward

This award belongs to all of us, ngā kaitiaki o te Taiao ”

Northland Regional Council Chair Pita Tipene called Ngāti Rēhia “the real leaders in the environmental ﬁeld ”

“E hari ana taku ngākau, I felt proud and elated

that Ngāti Rēhia received the Sustainability and Climate Action Award,” he said

“The establishment of Te Whare Taiao o Ngāti Rēhia was a standout for me They have a great team of hapū rangers working on the ground with very capable management ”

We offer:

Looking ahead, Rameka said their bold vision will focus on growing capacity, deepening partnerships and protecting whenua and taiao for generations to come

KMR supports groups to protect and restore the Kaipara Moana Kaipara Moana Remediation’s Whenua Whānui Fund supports groups to participate in projects that protect the Kaipara Moana.

Our projects support people, places and nature

KMR invests in projects to restore wetlands, fence off rivers and streams, plant trees and regenerate forest on erosion-prone land. Our projects:

• Help valued species to thrive

• Restore mahinga kai

• Diversify on-farm income

Help meet environmental standards

• Increase resilience to storms and extreme weather

The Whenua Whānui Fund is open to all groups including iwi/hapū, marae, landcare groups, catchment groups, kaitiaki, schools and trusts administering land with multple ownership

– Free advice – we walk the whenua with you to discuss your aspirations and project options

– Funding – KMR pays up to 70% of the cost of eligible sediment reduction projects

– This includes assistance with the costs of group engagement and project management

– Planning and support – our Field Advisors prepare a plan to access KMR funding and provide support through the project

To date, KMR has engaged with over 100 groups, with 54 groups leading projects or in discussion with KMR about future projects

If you are thinking about planting natives by rivers or streams this winter, get in touch with KMR as soon as possible, and ideally by 31 January 2026