Whenua Magazine - Issue 44

TE TAPU O TE WĀHI TAPU

PAENGA-WHĀWHĀ 2024 ISSUE

44

KIMIHIA TE MATANGARO

HE PAPA HE TUPU HE ORA

PKW STRATEGY REFRESH

NEW APP TO REVEAL THE STORIES OF THE WHENUA

KA TUPU KA HUA KA RERE TE MANU TĪORIORI THE LEGACY OF LINN WINEERA

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RAU WHĀRANGI CONTENTS HE TĀNGATA 12 E AI KI TE HUA O TE RENGARENGA ME WHAKAPAKARI KI TE HUA O TE RAU KAWARIKI Te Rau Kawariki/Associate Director Programme to be relaunched.

14 HE PAPA HE TUPU HE ORA PKW Strategy refresh signals a new wave of opportunities.

17 NGĀ HUA O TE TAU

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AGM 2023 Update.

HE WHENUA 20 KA PAKANGA TONU TE MATAMATA O TE ARERO Rental settlement talks reaching an impasse.

21 KA HUA TE MĀTAURANGA O TE KIWI I TE PORO RĀKAU Timber harvest study set to help understand Kiwi behaviour.

24 KA WANA TE TĪ – KAUPAPA AHUWHENUA Animal welfare top consideration in technology roll-out.

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26 TE TAPU O TE WĀHI TAPU (te reo Māori article) Nā Tonga Karena

28 NGĀ NONINGA KUMU Ā NGĀ TŪPUNA - WĀHI TAPU Walking the whenua once more.

HE ORANGA 30 KIMIHIA TE MATANGARO New app to reveal the stories of the whenua.

33 TUKU REO TUKU MOURI ‘The reo changes so many things’: Te Reo Rangatira scholar Dean Kahu.

36 TŪ MAI TAMA MANAWANUI TAMA MANAWAROA! Small but mighty – Hosts Ngāti Tama take out the Taranaki Tū Mai title.

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6 FEATURE ARTICLE 6 KA TUPU KA HUA KA RERE TE MANU TĪORIORI

The legacy of Linn Wineera - a symphony of memories after 27 years of service

NGĀ PĀNUI Half AGM Notice & Agenda 10am, Saturday 11 May Taiporohēnui Marae, Ohangai Road, Hāwera Full details on page 5.

He Raupatu He Rautāpatu Roadshow 11-21 April 2024 Various locations Full details on page 16.

Cover image: Linn Wineera has spent many hours at the milking shed of Farm 8 during his 27 years as farm manager.

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TE RAU KARERE EDITORIAL “A KEY FOCUS MOVING FORWARD IS UPLIFTING OUR CULTURAL CAPABILITY AS AN ORGANISATION, WHILE EQUIPPING OUR KAIMAHI BETTER WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO RESPOND TO THE CONSTANTLY CHANGING ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT WE WORK IN. “

Ruku atu rā e ngā mate i ngā wai tuku kiri a te Rere o Kāpuni

Whakaangi atu rā ki te tihi o Rua Taranaki kia māramarama rā te titiro ki hō iwi e tangi hotuhotu nei

– to a supportive and positive whare full of whānau. You can read more about how we are putting our people ever more firmly at the centre of what we do on page 14.

Korikori e te iwi, tū mai e Kahu

Tuku mai ana ngā hau o te rangi

Te hau o runga, te hau o raro, te hau o uta, te hau o tai I hauora tō iwi i a koutou e!

Welcome to the first edition of Whenua magazine for 2024 – although the year no longer feels particularly new due to the great deal of mahi that has already taken place on our whenua and within our whare.

This issue of Whenua is a special edition. Our feature story acknowledges the 27 years of service of Uncle Linn Wineera and whānau to our ahuwhenua business and intergenerational legacy. E kore e mimiti te aroha ki a koe e te ringa raupā, e te Matua.

This issue contains a review of the 2022/23 AGM/ Hui-ā-Tau, my first as Te Rau Matomato. It was a privilege to be at Aotearoa Pā again, and to connect with our Rau Titikura in person. At the hui-ā-tau we presented the refresh of our strategy – Rautaki 2033

PARININIHI KI WAITŌTARA Postal

PO Box 241 New Plymouth 4340 Physical 35 Leach Street New Plymouth 4310 Tel +64 (6) 769 9373 Fax +64 (6) 757 4206 Email office@pkw.co.nz www.pkw.co.nz 4

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iSTUDIOS MULTIMEDIA Postal

PO Box 8383 New Plymouth 4340 Physical 77B Devon Street East New Plymouth 4310 Tel +64 (6) 758 1863 Email info@istudios.co.nz www.istudios.co.nz

A key focus moving forward is uplifting our cultural capability as an organisation, while equipping our kaimahi better with the knowledge and skills to respond to the constantly changing economic environment we work in. We also want to provide an opportunity for our Rau Titikura whānau by diversifying our portfolio in new, meaningful, and innovative ways.

We are planning a series of roadshows this year so we can talk directly with you all about the strategy reset, and to get your perspective and thoughts about how we best deliver for your benefit. See page 16 for upcoming dates.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming hui and listening to your ideas and aspirations for the future of our treasured kaupapa.

Ngā mihi Aisha Ross Te Rau Matomato Chief Executive Officer

WHENUA MAGAZINE

Editor Aisha Ross Deputy Editor Puna Wano-Bryant Creative Direction Sheree Anaru Photography Quentin Bedwell Graphic Design Cherie Quin Illustration Dez Dromgool, Ngāneko Eriwata

CONTRIBUTORS

Polly Catlin-Maybury Moana Ellis Marama Ellis Tonga Karena Amokura Panoho Virginia Winder

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PARININIHI KI WAITŌTARA INCORPORATION HUI Ā-TAU (HALF-YEARLY GENERAL MEETING) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the half-yearly meeting of Shareholders will be held at Taiporohēnui Marae, Ohangai Road, Hāwera on Saturday, 11 May 2024.

9.00am 10.00am

Pōwhiri and registrations Meeting commences

BUSINESS:

• Apologies • Confirmation of minutes of 2023 Half-Yearly General Meeting • Presentation on performance to 31 December 2023 • General Business

PARININIHI KI WAITŌTARA TRUST HUI Ā-TAU (HALF-YEARLY GENERAL MEETING) NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the meeting of Beneficiaries will be held immediately following the half-yearly meeting of the PKW Incorporation.

BUSINESS:

• Apologies • Confirmation of minutes of 2023 Half-Yearly General Meeting • Presentation on performance to 31 December 2023 • General Business

Aisha Ross

SECRETARY

RAU TITIKURA / SHAREHOLDER FARM VISIT A bus tour of Te Ruru, 682 Meremere Road, Ohangai is being organised following the Annual General Meeting.

Rau Titikura / Shareholders wishing to visit the farm need to book a seat by contacting the PKW office. The tour is dependent on bookings.

RSVP by 1 May 2024

Phone: 06 769 9373

Email: reception@pkw.co.nz

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WHENUA MAGAZINE | ISSUE 44

KA TUPU, KA HUA, KA RERE TE MANU TĪORIORI

THE LEGACY OF LINN WINEERA - A SYMPHONY OF MEMORIES AFTER 27 YEARS OF SERVICE

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Under the watchful eye of Taranaki Maunga, Linn Wineera’s journey through 27 years of kaitiakitanga on Farm 8 is a testament to the proverb ‘Ka Tupu, Ka Hua, Ka Rere te Manu Tīoriori’ – As the seed grows, so does the fruit; As the bird sings, so does its journey begin.

We spoke with a newly retired Linn, and his wife Diane, to reflect on their life working the land.

Farm 8, 1015 Normanby Road, nestled in the foothills of the maunga near Normanby, has been more than just a workplace for Linn, wife Diane and their five children, Kestelle, Rhys, Capree, Trent, and Glen.

“They all grew up on the farm, learned to work hard and to help each other out. We are a very close family and enjoy spending time together,” says Diane. “I think a lot of that stems from just a good work ethic and sharing family meals. We always sat at the table for meals and talked about our day. I think that’s really one of the important things.”

As a young boy living with his grandparents Ngarua George Nuku Tarawhiti and Te Amohau Wikitoria Nuku (nee Skipper) on Normanby Road, Linn learnt to milk cows by hand. After leaving school, he worked as a farm hand before moving to Christchurch to become a diesel mechanic for CB Norwood Ltd, later working for the same company in Palmerston North and Hawera.

In 1980, Diane (nee Brogden) and Linn married and started their working life together as 29% sharemilkers, before becoming 50/50 sharemilkers on the Wineera Robinson family farm on Manawapou Road, Hawera in 1983. After 10 years there, the couple and their family moved to Newall Road, Okato for the next four years. Then in July 1997 they moved to Farm 8, once again as 50/50 sharemilkers.

In 2016 they thought it was time to retire from farming, sold their herd of cows and even considered a move to New Plymouth. But Shane Miles, Te Rau Whakahaumako/ General Manager – PKW Farms, came to them with a proposal and they decided to remain on Farm 8, with Linn becoming the Farm Manager.

Right: Linn and Diane at Farm 8.

Opposite page (top to bottom): Linn with his PKW retirement gift, Linn and Diane with their children (left to right) Capree, Kestelle, Glen, Trent and Rhys; and Linns’ whānau papakāinga in Normanby.

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From the beginning of his farming career, Linn applied traditional approaches to his farming practices. He recognised that the stock shared in the day-to-day life and rhythm of the farm and were an important part of its eco-system.

“He is a very gentle stockman, he doesn’t rush his cows.

Everyone else might try to rush things but he just slows them down and takes his time and the stock appreciate it,” says Diane.

“You’ve just got to start earlier to get stuff done,” quips Linn.

“I have always found satisfaction working on the farm and doing all the outdoor work,” he adds. “The changes in the dairy industry with digital reporting, the regular demand for reports and the new technology have been a challenge for me. But my ‘old way’ of doing things, though unconventional by modern standards, usually produced good results and have served the farm well over the years.”

While Linn appreciated how the advancements in technology could improve efficiency and productivity on the farm, he firmly believes that technology should not replace the fundamental skills and understanding of the land and livestock. Linn valued teaching the younger generation about traditional farming techniques, ensuring they understood the basics beyond technological aids.

“He is a very gentle stockman, he doesn’t rush his cows. Everyone else might try to rush things but he just slows them down and takes his time and the stock appreciate it.”

Diane Wineera

“Our daughter Capree was saying recently how a lot of the staff really appreciated Linn’s old style, teaching them about stockmanship and farm techniques. Technology is fine, but if the technology is not there you still have got to know how to do things,” says Diane.

Shane Miles, Te Rau Whakahaumako / General Manager Ahuwhenua, also saw the benefit of Linn’s approach.

“Linn’s passion for the herd on the farm was a defining characteristic he had. It demonstrated how he and Diane had an unwavering commitment to not only PKW’s kaupapa, but to the wellbeing of their stock,“ he says.

“His old-style approach also translated into his ‘tinkering’ and fixing his own machinery and problem solving where possible. Those values are an important part of our PKW kaupapa, ‘He tāngata, he whenua, he oranga.’

The Wineera children have each carved their own paths, but all reflect the work ethic, sense of community and love for the land instilled in them from a young age.

Linn’s three sons followed their father’s tinkering habits as a diesel mechanic by building their own business Paeroa Contracting Wineera Brothers (Taranaki), undertaking Civil and Agricultural contracting. They established a strong working relationship with PKW from their early beginnings through to the present day, and Linn and his family are grateful for the ongoing opportunities and support the incorporation has given them.

Daughter Capree spent two seasons working on the farm with Linn, where she continues to work on a casual basis alongside owning a flooring business with her partner James. Kestelle, along with her partner Kent Hancock, own their own online logistics company ‘The Feed Store’.

Over the years Diane and Linn have hosted nine exchange students from around the world, who have all helped on the farm with milking and odd jobs. The couple marvelled such was the bond that was established with one student in particular, Niina from Finland, that she came back to New Zealand twice during successive spring seasons just to help with calving.

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“Linn’s passion for the herd on the farm was a defining characteristic he had. It demonstrated how he and Diane had an unwavering commitment to not only PKW’s kaupapa, but to the wellbeing of their stock.“ Shane Miles

For more than 30 years, Linn was also active in the Taranaki Māori Discussion group. This group provided support to local Māori farmers by way of monthly meetings at different farms.

“We discussed matters relevant to our work, cow condition, production, weather conditions and other issues, providing each other with ideas and support,” he remembers. “These meetings were of great benefit to many of us, as was the general catch up and fellowship they offered. Unfortunately, this group has recently disbanded.”

Linn also became active in his children’s sports, hockey in particular, where they played for local clubs and Taranaki representative teams.

“I enjoyed watching their games, and after a few years put my hand up to coach. Over the years I have coached Hawera High School (now Te Paepae o Aotea) girls’ and boys’ teams, and Taranaki Junior Boys’ hockey teams.”

His other great love outside of farming and family is music, though he is renowned for not playing radio music in his cowsheds.

“I am the music,” says Linn with a laugh. “A lot of my music comes from the times of my father, Kelly Joseph Paeroa Wineera, from the 50s and 60s. He had a band with Roy Robinson, Henare Ngaia and Frank Robinson. I heard stories from my uncles about how they had a lot of supporters who followed them around the coast. My father never drank but there were always jugs on the tables, so all his followers were getting the free beer!”

Linn has been playing drums since 1987, mainly for the band Ngā Tama, and also enjoys playing the guitar. He was absolutely thrilled that PKW gave him one as his retirement gift.

“I turned 70 in June last year and decided to end my farming career. I am grateful for the opportunities PKW has given me as I loved being on Farm 8, the land of my hapū, tending to the land and the cows, although I have to say I am enjoying retirement and not having to get up at 4am!”

E te rangatira o te manaaki whenua, o te manaaki kararehe, tukua tō reo waiata kia rere, kia pai ngā rangi whakatā kei mua i a koe me tō whānau!

Below: Linn was a diligent Farm Manager, making sure all was well in the shed and out in the paddocks each day.

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“I am grateful for the opportunities PKW has given me as I loved being on Farm 8, the land of my hapū, tending to the land and the cows...”

Linn Wineera

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E AI KI TE HUA O TE RENGARENGA ME WHAKAPAKARI KI TE HUA O TE RAU KAWARIKI TE RAU KAWARIKI / ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR PROGRAMME TO BE RELAUNCHED

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Ensuring PKW continues to serve Rau Titikura / Shareholders well into the future is the kaupapa behind the relaunch of the PKW Associate Directorship Programme / Te Rau Kawariki.

The programme has already proved its worth, with a number of previous and current Board members former Associate Directors (e.g. PKW Trust chair Hinerangi Edwards, Anne-Marie Broughton, Aroha Hohaia, Claire Nicholson, Daniel Harrison, Tama Potaka and also our current Te Rau Matomato, Aisha Ross).

“Comprehensive and effective succession planning is a key part of our strategic approach to the future management and governance of the Incorporation, and the Associate Director Programme is a fundamental element of that,” says Anne-Marie Broughton, Chair of Te Rau Mataora / PKW Human Resources Committee.

“The programme doesn’t only benefit PKW either, as it is effectively an apprenticeship for future full board membership and enables us to actively contribute to growing governance capability of our Taranaki whānau.”

Associate Directors develop their skills by participating in and contributing to regular governance meetings as though they were a fully elected member. Although they do not hold voting rights, they are expected to take part in Board discussions, represent the Incorporation with external stakeholders, develop positive working relationships with other Board members and PKW kaimahi, and ensure the organisation meets its strategic goals.

But the most important aspect of the role is to listen and learn.

“While another perspective around the Board table is always welcome, we want our Associate Directors to really endeavour to learn about our organisation and businesses, and understand the context in which we work, how vital tino rangatiratanga is for our people, and how best to serve our owners and their whānau,” says AnneMarie. “We are looking for people who want to grow and develop their existing leadership skills and understanding in this space and have a commitment to both PKW and Taranaki Māori for the future.”

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13 HE TĀNGATA

The Programme has been reviewed at various times over the last 15 years and is still fit for purpose. In 2016 the Incorporation reset its strategic priorities, which led to a need to review the governance structures and arrangements across the business. A decision was made to place the Associate Directorship on hold until that work was completed, and changes had been implemented.

Now the review is complete, and governance changes have been in embedded across the PKW Group, it is time to re-instate the Associate Directorship Programme.

“While from our perspective this position has been created to benefit the Incorporation and the development of our owner whānau, it is also a real opportunity for whānau already in a senior leadership position to take the next step and gain valuable experience in the Te Ao Māori governance space for a large multi-entity organisation,” says Anne-Marie. “The potential for professional growth and development is considerable, as Associates not only sit on the Committee of Management, but also gain insight into the various investments within the PKW Group investment portfolio, especially our active entities — PKW Farms LP, PKW Miraka Hipi LP and the PKW Trust.”

The successful candidate will hold the position for two years, aligning with the electoral terms of other Board Members. A recruitment campaign will run over the next few months, with onboarding timed for the Annual General Meeting in November.

Applicants must be a PKW shareholder or descendant of a PKW shareholder and have proven knowledge, skills and experience or demonstrated potential to develop in one or more areas of governance: Strategic Planning and Innovation, Communication, Business Acumen, Technology, Leadership, Tikanga Māori and Regional Māori Politics, Networking and/or Human Resources.

A commitment to the vision, mission, values, and behaviours of the Parininihi ki Waitōtara Incorporation is essential.

More information about the application process will be available soon.

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HE PAPA, HE TUPU, HE ORA

PKW STRATEGY REFRESH SIGNALS A NEW WAVE OF OPPORTUNITIES

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“We do not define prosperity in merely financial terms. This strategy will deliver Te Rau Titikura vital cultural, social, and environmental returns as well.”

Dion Tuuta

People and a sense of place are at the heart of Rautaki 2033, PKW’s refreshed strategic vision that will navigate the organisation through the growing challenges and opportunities to come.

new investment opportunities in food and fibre, property, and renewable energy. This will enable us to build a more balanced Papatupu (portfolio) that makes the business more resilient in a rapidly changing world.”

Operational excellence and sustainability are also key for a strategy that provides the blueprint for a proud kaupapa-led, diversified and resilient business that has prosperity of its people and whenua at its core.

The foundation of the business will always be its whakapapa and whenua tūpuna, and by bringing together the potential of land, people, and partnerships, with a focus on operational excellence, wealth creation, and sustainability, the mission ‘To be a successfully diversified and sustainable Taranaki Māori owned and operated business providing meaningful opportunity to our people’ is an achievable one.

“Helping Te Rau Titikura, their whānau and Taranaki Māori to thrive is the driving force behind this reset,” says Dion Tuuta, Te Rau Toi Ariki / Chair of PKW Board. “This is our purpose, along with the need to protect our whenua tūpuna and build the wealth to enrich future generations.

“Our values of Manaakitanga, Katiakitanga, Whakapono and Whanaungatanga/Kotahitanga remain steadfast, and our mission and vision of He Tāngata, He Whenua, He Oranga continue to guide us.

“We are not a faceless corporation, we are a family-owned business that operates true to its values and the legacy of our tūpuna, but we need commercial discipline and focus in order to deliver on the expectations of our Te Rau Titikura.”

“We do not define prosperity in merely financial terms. This strategy will deliver Te Rau Titikura vital cultural, social, and environmental returns as well,” explains Dion.

“One example of this is our focus on developing our people by attracting, retaining, developing, and supporting kaimahi from our shareholder whānau, upholding tūpuna kōrero, reo, tikanga, identity and connection for the business, those who work with us, and Taranaki Māori as a whole.

Today’s business world is ever-changing, with export markets affected by political instability and regulatory impacts.

“Collaboration founded in shared values will bring about local impact with a global reach. Many of our Te Rau Titikura, customers and partners are located outside of Taranaki and this will be crucial to our diversification and long-term success.”

“Diversification has long been a watchword for us, and now the need to mitigate the risks our current portfolio is subject to has become more pressing,” says Dion. “While we will continue to optimise and diversify our agri-focus operations, we will also be looking to our core asset, our whenua, to support our strategic activities as we explore

The reset kaupapa of He Papa, He Tupu, He Ora – Legacy, Growth, Prosperity– brings a sense of place for PKW, with People, Partnership and Performance as central tenets and drivers, with Papatupu, the portfolio of actively and passively managed whenua, resources, and investments, at the foundation.

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HE PAPA, HE TUPU, HE ORA Legacy, Growth, Prosperity

“The considerations and kōrero we have had as a Board, and with our Te Rau Matomato, Aisha Ross, while refreshing and resetting our strategic approach for the business have been extremely valuable,” says Dion. “We know who we are, and where we stand, the legacy of our tūpuna urging us on to a future that benefits future generations. This is a continuation of a journey that has already started for us.”

A series of roadshows are being planned for April to enable Te Rau Titikura to speak directly with Board members and Te Rau Manawanui / Executive Leadership team about their thoughts and aspirations for the organisation. More information on the roadshows is available below.

PLACE Taranaki & Aotearoa

PEOPLE

PARTNERSHIP

PERFORMANCE

Te Rau Titikura, Kaimahi and Taranaki Māori

Strong relationships and collaboration centred on shared values

Operational excellence and sustainability

PAPATUPU ‘Papatupu’ is a Taranaki kupu for the provision of resources from the ground up. “Ngā hua i tupu i a Papatūānuku (Papa)” The papa can also refer to the asset base that benefits flow from investments, managed whenua, and other business units and portfolios.

Portfolio of actively and passively managed whenua, resources and investments

P R O SP ERIT Y

HE PĀNUI KI NGĀ RAU TITIKURA! HE RAUPATU HE RAUTĀPATU ROADSHOW

We invite our Rau Titikura / Shareholder whānau to join our representatives from Te Rau Rengarenga / Committee of Management and Te Rau Manawanui / Executive Leadership Team as we share the strategic refresh and business updates with you, our whānau.

Please RSVP to the tari on executiveassistant@pkw.co.nz if you intend to join us.

Keep an eye on the PKW Facebook page for up to date details. Scan the code below:

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Date

Time

Location

Thur 11 April

6:00pm - 9:00pm

NEW PLYMOUTH: PKW Whare 35 Leach Street, New Plymouth, 4310

Sat 13 April

10:00am - 1:00pm

AUCKLAND: Jet Park Hotel Auckland Airport 63 Westney Road, Mangere, Auckland, 2022

Thur 18 April

6:00pm - 9:00pm

HĀWERA: TSB Hub - Camberwell Lounge Camberwell Road, Hāwera, 4610

Sat 20 April

10:00am - 1:00pm

WELLINGTON: Silverstream Retreat 3 Reynolds Bach Drive, Lower Hutt, 5019

Sun 21 April

10:00am - 1:00pm

NELSON: The Hotel Nelson 40 Waimea Road, Nelson South, Nelson, 7010

WHENUA MAGAZINE | ISSUE 44

NGĀ HUA O TE TAU

AGM 2023 UPDATE

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Changes in the leadership and governance of PKW over the past financial year were acknowledged, and a strategic reset heralded, at the PKW Hui-ā-Tau/Annual General Meeting held at Aotearoa Pā in November.

New Te Rau Matomato / Chief Executive, Aisha Ross, was welcomed by Board Chair Dion Tuuta, who also led a mihi to Warwick Tauwhare-George, who previously held the role, for his contribution to the organisation.

The newest member of Te Rau Manawanui / Executive Leadership Team, Jahron Neha, Te Rau Māhorahora / General Manager Finance and Investments, was also welcomed and acknowledged.

spent with Māori businesses in Taranaki and an inaugural Waka Ama event bringing kaimahi and Iwi together in a social context,” says Aisha.

“While, quite rightly, there were some challenging pātai from the floor with regards to the financial report, overall shareholders understood the challenging environment the organisation is working in and were supportive in acknowledging the mahi the PKW team had done over the year.”

“There was also a feeling of optimism for the future, with positive feedback for the introduction to the strategic reset Dion presented to the rōpū.”

A tough year operationally with global issues, increasing regulatory demands, and a spiraling inflation rate pushing up costs was reflected in the financial report, presented

by Aisha.

Rautaki 2033 outlines the journey for PKW over the next 10 years, with a continued commitment to support the prosperity of Te Rau Titikura, their whānau and Taranaki Māori.

“While the business faced numerous challenges over the past financial year, there were still a significant number of highlights to celebrate, which included the launch of the Piki Mai Rawea app in May, an increase in the amount

A defined purpose ‘To make positive contributions to the prosperity of our people, protect our whenua tūpuna, and build wealth that enriches future generations’ has been added to the long-standing PKW vision, mission

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“While the business faced numerous challenges over the past financial year, there were still a significant number of highlights to celebrate, which included the launch of the Piki Mai Rawea app in May, an increase in the amount spent with Māori businesses in Taranaki and an inaugural Waka Ama event bringing kaimahi and Iwi together in a social context.”

Aisha Ross

and value set, and there is a greater focus on the further diversification of the portfolio with potential opportunity in the Food and Fibre, Property and Aged Care, Renewable Energy and Innovation and Technology sectors.

A detailed roadmap and roadshows across the motu will enable Rau Titikura to delve into the detail of the reset, and kōrero with Board and ELT members about the thinking and execution of this strategic plan. Please see article on page 15 for more information about Rautaki 2033.

The Te Rau Manawaora / PKW Trust AGM also took place, with Te Rau Toi Tauira / Chair Liana Poutu reiterating the strategic goals of community development, active participation and leadership and collaboration in her presentation.

An increased number of grants and scholarships (22 in total) to the value of $381k were awarded last year, with Tawhitinui Marae and Owae Marae receiving grants of $20k and $22K respectively. Kapa haka teams representing the Aotea rohe at Te Matatini also received a $5k grant each.

The Trust now has 21 scholarship partners, which includes all iwi of Taranaki.

Te Rau Matatoi / Charles Bailey Scholar Katrina Taylor was proud to present her research as she works towards a Masters in Indigenous Studies through Te Whare Wānanga o Te Awanuiārangi which explores the impact of pouarutanga.

The Te Rau Rengarenga / Committee of Management election results were announced with Dion Tuuta and Taari Nicholas re-elected, and former CoM member Tokatumoana Walden and new nominee Serena Fiso also welcomed on to the Board.

After the hui, a workforce development expo “He Raupatu, He Rautāpatu” of 20 suppliers and businesses was held to help shareholders and whānau explore potential career pathways, which was very well-received.

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KA PAKANGA TONU TE MATAMATA O TE ARERO RENTAL SETTLEMENT TALKS REACHING AN IMPASSE

The draconian legislation of the Māori Reserved Land Amendment Act 1997 continues to cause issues in rental settlement talks between Parininihi ki Waitōtara and the West Coast Settlement Reserves Lessee Association.

“We’ve agreed with the lessees’ association regarding a collegial process where two valuers, one from each side, work alongside each other,” Richard Buttimore

“Because the context has changed from when the Act was written to today and other legislation impacting on the Act has evolved or been introduced, the wording within the Act is in question, with each party taking an alternate view. This means we are yet to reach an agreement about setting a fair annual rent” says Richard Buttimore, Te Rau Whakahono Pito / GM Property for PKW.

Given the size of the portfolio, PKW appointed two valuers – one from Logan Stone and the other from Colliers. One covers North Taranaki, and the other is focused on South Taranaki.

A review of the Fair Annual Rent of the Whenua Tūpuna portfolio (Corpus Whenua) is due every seven years under the Māori Reserved Lands Amendment Act 1997.

“Failure to do that means we follow the collegial agreement and the Act, which says you go to mediation. That’s the step we’re in now.”

Under the Act, Fair Annual Rent certificates must be issued either six months prior to, or 12-month post, the review date, which was 1 January 2024 for the majority of the PKW portfolio.

In mediation, the valuers and representatives of PKW and the lessee association sit down and talk about the issues to see if they can sort them out between them.

The Incorporation’s owners have 326 parcels of corpus whenua land with 250 rented by lessees.

The rent review process is always a challenging one for all concerned, but there are clear steps in place to help a conclusion to be reached.

“We’ve agreed with the lessees’ association regarding a collegial process where two valuers, one from each side, work alongside each other,” Richard says.

“The idea was that they will settle most of the issues together on site. So, what the valuers are tasked with doing essentially is agreeing a Fair Annual Rent between them.”

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For the lessees, the valuers are from CBRE (Taranaki) Property Valuations (formerly TelferYoung).

“There’s a high chance we’re not going to do achieve an agreed outcome,” says Richard, explaining the parties are in the final stages of mediation. “So we are going through the motions of how we move into arbitration.”

If arbitration is required, Parininihi ki Waitōtara and the West Coast Settlement Reserves Lessee Association will each appoint a KC (King’s Counsel). These two appointed KCs will then appoint an Arbitrator to hear the points of contention that have arisen from the Fair Annual Rent review.

The Arbitrator will then make a decision, which is binding on both parties and can only be challenged in the High Court.

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KA HUA TE MĀTAURANGA O TE KIWI I TE PORO RĀKAU TIMBER HARVEST STUDY SET TO HELP UNDERSTAND KIWI BEHAVIOUR

Photos: Jenny Feaver

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A new approach to harvesting timber to protect kiwi is now under way in the 400-hectare Mangaoapa Forest on Parininihi ki Waitōtara whenua.

Richard Buttimore, Te Rau Whakahono Pito / GM Property for PKW, says that a pre-harvest blessing was held on site in the forest last November before work began.

“It was led by Ngāti Maru – and that’s when the first tree was cut. The blessing was about a safe harvest, and acknowledging Tāne, the trees and their contribution to our kaupapa.”

areas, which means not harvesting at all in some places.”

The whenua, made up of 300 hectares of radiata pine and 100 hectares of native forest, is also home to kiwi, who are part of a ground-breaking research project.

“The native forest will remain. What we are trying to figure out with our kiwi project is where the kiwi are and their territorial areas within the block. There’s a strong inkling they are predominately nesting in the native (part), but it appears they do come out and are in the radiata pine forest as well,” says Richard.

PKW had co-owned the land, which is located near Purangi, east of Inglewood, since it was originally planted with radiata pine about 30 years ago. In December 2022, the Incorporation bought out its joint-venture partner.

NZ Forestry is the harvest manager for Fortuna Forest Products, which has pre-purchased the woodlot.

Only the kiwi monitor person knows the location of the iconic birds – the rest of the harvest contractors will continue harvesting as they normally would.

Richard says being sole owners means PKW has been able to carry out the harvest following its own kaupapa.

But if they are getting close to a kiwi, especially a male on an egg in a nest, the monitor will alert the team.

“Our values and our Kaitiakitanga Strategy mean our approach to harvest was going to be very different to what would normally happen. We are looking at minimising damage and protecting our taonga species and sensitive

“It was led by Ngāti Maru – and that’s when the first tree was cut. The blessing was about a safe harvest, and acknowledging Tāne, the trees and their contribution to our kaupapa.”

Richard Buttimore

Right: Ngāti Maru tohunga Rumatiki Timu clears the way for harvest with karakia and tūpuna kōrero.

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“The intention is we will attempt not to intervene unless there is a male who won’t leave the nest or there is an abandoned egg. Otherwise, we’ll let it run its natural course, so we understand how the kiwi react to the process of harvesting.”

Richard says the study is believed to be the first of its kind and could help other forest ventures when developing kiwi management plans as part of their harvests.

In the last 12 months, four kiwi couples have been caught and tagged, and their territory mapped, but Richard says the team knows there are more kiwi in the area. It’s hoped that these can also be caught and tagged later this year.

Meanwhile, work at Mangaoapa Forest continues with the first few months spent setting up the infrastructure ready for harvest, while also felling about 10 hectares of trees.

“Come March, it will be full steam ahead,” Richard says.

“In the contract we have prioritised local sawmills, so Taranakipine will get certain grades where it is economic to do so.”

The harvest will take two to three years and is expected to reap 180,000-plus tonnes of wood lot.

It’s also providing employment opportunities – at the start of harvesting and while building the track infrastructure there has been a peak of 16 full-time equivalent staff on the job.

“The native forest will remain. What we are trying to figure out with our kiwi project is where the Kiwi are and their territorial areas within the block.”

Richard Buttimore

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KA WANA TE TĪ – KAUPAPA AHUWHENUA

ANIMAL WELFARE TOP CONSIDERATION IN TECHNOLOGY ROLL-OUT |

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The use of wearable technology for cows is proving to be a life-saving measure for herds on Parininihi ki Waitōtara farms.

“We’ve probably saved four cows from death because of them,” says contract milker Ricky Tito, who works on Farm 5, on Lower Winks Road, near Manaia.

“We can trust those collars and that they are doing the right thing and they’ll do the job for you. The other big advantage is extra time off for us all. We have rosters more comparable to a townie’s roster.”

Ricky Tito

The cow collars were adopted in June last year on the farm, and quickly proved their worth when they identified two cows that were having calving trouble, and two that had milk fever.

In one of the cases, information from a collar showed a cow had been calving too long overnight, and was in distress. As soon as Ricky saw the alert, he was able to help her straight away.

Shane Miles, Te Rau Whakahaumako / General Manager Ahuwhenua, says seven of the organisation’s ten farms are using the collars, and they will be rolled out across the rest over the next 12 months. Animal health and welfare are a key element of the kaitiakitanga values PKW is committed to, so the cow collars are helping with that kaupapa.

After investigating market options and thorough trials, Allflex cow collars have been chosen, which collect data, including recording animal movements and walking distances, and general functions of each cow.

The collars and supporting IT system can send messages to farmers if a cow is in distress, amongst other benefits.

Farm staff also get alerts on their phones if there is an issue, and workers can also check the computer in the cowshed first thing to see if any cows need to be monitored.

Shane says that at milking time, information from the collars can be set to automatically draft cows with potential issues out of the herd into a holding pen, so they can be checked over.

“The collar is only collecting the data – the power is in the software and the important farmer decision-making,” says Shane. “You can set the system up to tailor-make it to how you want it.”

The collars also help identify cows in heat or in labour, which means staff don’t have to spend as much time observing the animals during breeding season. “This in turn provides an opportunity to support the health and wellbeing of farm operators at a very, very busy time of the year when there is a lot going on,” says Shane.

Farm 5 contract milker Ricky Tito says the collars are invaluable and assist with work life balance. “We can trust those collars and that they are doing the right thing and they’ll do the job for you.

“The other big advantage is extra time off for us all. We have rosters more comparable to a townie’s roster.

“The back-up service is really good too – the call centre supporting the collars is excellent and runs 24/7.”

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TE TAPU O TE WĀHI TAPU NĀ TONGA KARENA

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Image supplied.

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Tirotirohia te moana, Ka māunu ake te kura, Hekeheke riu, pikipiki pari, – ko Tauanui te kura!

Tāia te hua o te wānanga - ko Tāhuahua, ko Whakarauora te kura ē!

Tēnei te ara kei runga! Ko te ara o tēnei tupua, ko te ara o tēnei tawhito, ko te ara tū mai, ko te ara i tūpono, ko te ara i rokohina ake rā ko te kura tapu i whakarerena ake e o tātou tupuna. Ka ngana i te hau, ka maranga i te ao, ka tupu i te maruwehi, ka ora i te marutuna. Ka tātaihia te iho o te whakapapa, ka tōmairangitia te kupu i te takoto o te maioro, ka auahatia te ngākau i te tapuwae tupuna, ka māunu ake te taniwha i te rua kōhā! Koia tērā ko te uruuru whenua kia uruuru ai te mātiritiri o te wana, ko te taunaha ake i te taurikura o te haumako, ko te whakatō i te kawa ora ki roto i te tītohea.

Ka hohou atu te tira haere ki ngā pāmu ki ngā ‘wāhi tapu’ kei reira, ka mā atu te haere kia whai haere i ngā tapuwae a ngā tūpuna, ki raro i te maru o Ngāti Tūpaia, ko Ngāti Tānewai, ko Ngāti Hine, ko Tūwhakaehu, ko Hāmua me Hāpōtiki. Ka aratakina te haere e o tātou rangatira a Tāne Houston, Te Pōihi Campbell me Rukutai Wātene. Ka noho te tira haere, otirā, ko ngā rau whakauruora ki raro i hō rātou maru kia rangona ai ngā kōrero whakapapa, ngā pakiwaitara, ngā āwangawanga, ngā wero i whata ra ki hō rātou ngākau, ka mutu, māringanui, i ngākau aotea mai rātou ki te tukutuku ki a mātou haua kura.

Koinei te āhuatanga o te wānanga taiao e haere tahi nei me tō mātou pupuru i te mauri o haua wāhi ra kia whakarauorahia ai te mauri. I tua atu i te patu paihamu, te whakatō i te mauri o Hinewaoriki ki ngā tahataha o ngā awa, te ine i te mauri o te wai, ko tētehi mahinga nui whakahirahira ko te noninoni o te kumu ki haua wāhi rā, ko te whakapūare taringa ki te reo a ngā tohunga, ko te mātai atu i te tākotokoto o te whenua pērā ki tā ngā tūpuna i mātai ai. Ka taki pēnei ana, ka mārama ki te āhua o te raupatu i pā ki ngā uri, ka mārama me pēhea e anga whakamua mā roto mai i te whakaruru, te taiepatia mai, te tuku kē atu i a punua kau kia haere noa (ki te pēneitia,

ka kitea mai i te takoto o ngā rua kūmara mā roto mai i tō rātou takahi i te whenua) me te pupuru i ngā kau pakeke nei kia kore ai kaha rawa te ngāhorohoro o te oneone. Āpiti atu, mehemea he uri whakatupu, ā, e whai pāranga ana ki haua wāhi rā he hopukina ake i ngā kōrero whakapapa e tuitui ai te hono, e mārō ai te taunga wairua a te tangata.

Heoi, ko te mahinga nui he takahi ngātahi me te kaimātai whaipara tangata (archaeologist), rāua tahi ko te tohunga o te kāinga. He mīharo hoki ki te whakarongo ki ngā tohunga e rua, heoi ko tā Ivan Bruce, he mātai atu, he mātirotiro me te tohua mai ki a mātou he aha rawa ngā āhuatanga e huna ana. Āe rānei, ko ngā toenga kai pērā ki ngā anga kutai i pakaru rikiriki, ā, e haupū ana pea ki raro i te oneone, ka mutu, he tohu whai oranga kikokiko nei e kore e taea te karo. Waihoki ko te tohua mai i tētehi rākau motuhake i tou ki reira i ngā tau maha ki muri, pērā ki te rākau Karaka e tū ana me tana kotahi ki Tauanui ki roto i a Tūwhakaehu rāua ko Ngāti Hine. Ka pakiwaitara hoki i a ia ngā tini kōrero e hāngai nei ki ngā pakanga, otiia, ko ngā tauā hoia me tō rātou urutomo haere ki te patu tangata, ka whakamārama hoki i te mahi a ngā kaihanga māpi – mehemea i hē, i tika kē rānei ko tā rātou whakaingoa i haua wāhi i rūritia ai e rātou. Heoi, koinei rawa te huanga o hēnei mahi rangahau, na te mea i ētehi wā – kua hē katoa, ka mutu, ka riro mā mātou hei whakatikatika.

Ahakoa hēnei o runga ake nei, kei te whāwhā noa iho mātou i te puehu paraoa ‘whenua’ nei i taka ki hō mātou ringaringa, arā, ko ngā whenua e whakahaerehia ana e mātou. Ko ngā toenga, otirā, ko ngā whenua ‘corpus nei’ e ono tekau ngā wāhi tapu e noho nei ki raro i te mana o te whenua raihana. Koinei te toronga o te raupatu ki ia whakatupuranga e pā kino tonu nei ki a tātou i te rangi nei. Kei ngā kaipāmu te mana me tā rātou ngākau taiao e mōhio ai, āe rānei, kei te tiakina e rātou kāore rānei.

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NGĀ NONINGA KUMU Ā NGĀ TŪPUNA - WĀHI TAPU WALKING THE WHENUA ONCE MORE Work is underway identifying, protecting and reconnecting hapū with wāhi tapu on Parininihi ki Waitōtara whenua.

“Due to the consequences of raupatu, many of our people have been disconnected from these places for a long time,” says Puna Wano-Bryant, Te Rautitikura / General Manager - Shareholder Engagement.

“It’s often a very personal and moving experience when we go to wāhi tapu. The hapū are planting their feet back on these significant sites for the first time in a very long time.”

There are some 60 known wāhi tapu across PKW whenua, with most on whenua tūpuna/corpus land and leasehold farms. The Incorporation is focusing initially on whenua it actively manages and has full access to and control over.

“We have up to 10 wāhi tapu on our actively managed lands,” Puna says. “Some of them form a complex of sites.

There could be two or three wāhi tapu within one area.

“Our objective is to accurately and comprehensively identify all 60 sites, starting with the first 10 as a priority.”

To do that, a range of data is obtained from different sources and cross-referenced. It’s a meticulous and layered process of research but necessary, given that the whenua has been through the process of confiscation and re-occupation.

The detailed identification process includes formal archaeological assessments and recommendations

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from local archaeologists. These assessments provide comprehensive historical information on the sites, any specific features, and what level of protection may be required (including whether the site should be listed with or further protected by, Heritage New Zealand).

After identification comes protection, enhancement and reconnection.

Working alongside the hapū who whakapapa to these sites is critical, Puna says.

“When we identify the sites and walk over the whenua, we do that with the hapū. And the next stages – protection, ongoing access and reconnection for hapū – are only done with their direct involvement and authority.

“While the general location of these wāhi tapu have been known within the PKW whānau and have been marked as ‘no-go zones’ for farming practices on operational maps, the process we are undertaking is much more than demarcations and delineations on maps. This is meaningful engagement with our hapū to ensure that their vision and aspirations for their sites are understood and supported by Parininihi ki Waitōtara.”

The PKW taiao team and kaitiaki Te Poihi Campbell (Ngāti Hine, Tūwhakaehu), Rukutai Watene (Hāpotiki) and Tāne Houston (Ngāti Tānewai, Ngāti Tūpaia) have already walked several of the sites, including Tauanui on the farm Te Ruru, Tāhuahua and Whakarauora on Farm 4, and Tirotiromoana.

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“Many of these sites have special features that require fencing for preservation. However, in some cases, constructing physical structures on the site could damage the features, so wāhi tapu must be assessed for protection on a site-by-site basis. Every site is unique,” says Puna.

Once the sites are protected, wāhi tapu management plans will be agreed and put into operation to enable hapū access. Information that tells the history of those sites, such as storyboards and maps, will also be developed.

These stories will be used as the hapū consider appropriate.

“When we identify the sites and walk over the whenua, we do that with the hapū.

And the next stages – protection, ongoing access and reconnection for hapū – are only done with their direct involvement and authority.

Puna Wano-Bryant

The work brings together teams across Parininihi ki Waitōtara.

“Our wāhi tapu are a really powerful point of collaboration and connection for us internally in all parts of our business, as well as with our hapū,” says Puna.

“The awareness and protection of these sacred spaces on PKW whenua requires us all to work together – ki te whakakaupapa i te kotahitanga hei painga mō te oranga o te whenua, mō te oranga o te tangata.”

Right: Tāhuahua Pā on Farm 4 within the rohe of Hāmua Hāpotiki hapū. The pine trees have since been safely harvested to ensure ongoing protection of the site.

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KIMIHIA TE MATANGARO

NEW APP TO REVEAL THE STORIES OF THE WHENUA

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A new analytical tool, currently in prototype form, promises to help whānau explore the rich data contained in 320 historic Taranaki roll (survey) plans.

Meanwhile, Adrian is hoping to use additional information gained from the historic images to clarify the names of parcels of land under PKW care. He anticipates taking the app on the road or to PKW hui to reveal to whānau the stories of their whenua.

“It’s been like looking for needles in a haystack but, for the moment, all the puzzle pieces are coming together,” says Adrian Poa, Parininihi ki Waitōtara Incorporation Te Rau Tātai Kura / Shareholder Engagement Advisor. “The prototype app is a vehicle for whānau to discover where their interests in PKW have come from.”

“It will help whānau see where they are from if we can show where the current land is, and compare its current appellation (name) with its historic or original name from the 1963 Amalgamation Order,” he says.

The app, developed by a team from the University of Otago, draws on Te Kooti Whenua Māori / Māori Land Court records and detailed images from the Taranaki District maps. Toitū Te Whenua / Land Information NZ gifted the maps to PKW and laser scanned 686 images dating back to the 1880s.

In 1963, the 212 remnants of the West Coast Settlement Reserves were amalgamated to create the Paraninihi ki Waitōtara Mega Reserve. Names of the parcels of land have changed over time, which makes it difficult for whānau to track where they have inherited their shares from.

“The Otago University team has created a means of extricating knowledge and mātauranga from the plans.

The data provides a foundation to create meta layers on the app, with potential for whānau to add their own stories and histories to the landscapes,” says Adrian.

“Having the resources – the images and app – to match boundaries and find original names has been really important. For example, one of the maps confirms the block now known as part Section 155 Hua District was historically known as Tapuirau. Tapuirau is the name listed in the 1963 Amalgamation Order,” says Adrian.

The computer scientists and one geography/archaeology student value the project’s ‘real life’ application – an eyeopening experience for some.

“The work isn’t abstract. We’ve developed something that can be used and has impact,” says Dr Claudia Ott, summing up the team’s enthusiasm for the project.

“We’ve enjoyed working with the PKW team and owners to find out what they want. We’ve all learned something too – the story of land confiscations, what happened at Parihaka, how the land fits into New Zealand’s history.”

“There is power in those old names. There may be pūrākau connected with them or they were significant pā or urupā sites. For example, part of the Waipipi wind farm is on a block that used to be called Te Oho. Te Oho is an old pā site next to Whenuakura River. Now the block is called Section 370 Okotuku District which doesn’t mean anything.”

The development of the app is part of the larger Kimihia te Matangaro project funded by the Science for Technological Innovation, National Science Challenge.

“We’ve enjoyed working with the PKW team and owners to find out what they want. We’ve all learned something too – the story of land confiscations, what happened at Parihaka, how the land fits into New Zealand’s history.”

Dr Claudia Ott

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“Over five years the focus has broadened from finding our missing shareholders, to helping them discover where they fit in to the historical landscape of Taranaki, their connections to Taranaki, their iwi, their hapū and their marae,” says Adrian.

Project partners Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University, and Waipapa Taumata Rau – Auckland University, are working on smart data analytic tools to find missing shareholders and keep track of the growing number of shareholders and their uri.

The more recent relationships with Toitū Whenua and Otago University have generated an overlay of historic data to trace the whakapapa of the whenua that whānau come from.

“We appreciate the efforts, expertise and passion that all of the researchers have invested in this project, and look forward to sharing this tool with our wider Rau Titikura whānau,” says Adrian.

The project with Otago University is due to finish at the end of May.

The prototype app enables the information contained in old records and maps to be used in different ways that help reveal the whakapapa of PKW whenua.

1. Users can focus on a particular parcel of land – this example is now called Part Section 155 Hua District. It is located on Pohutukawa place near the New Plymouth Golf Course.

2. The app can also access historic Taranaki Roll Plans that may provide more information about the parcel of land. This image shows a Crown Record Map of the Paritutu Survey District placed over a current day map of New Plymouth.

The area shown in the black square is where our parcel of land is located.

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3. The app enables one map to be laid over another - we can confirm that our example block known as Part Section 155 Hua District was historically known as Tapuirau - one of the 212 remnants of the West Coast Settlement Reserves that was amalgamated in 1963 to create the Parininihi ki Waitotara Mega Reserve.

4. The app allows us to add our own knowledge and kōrero using the Annotation function.

Here the original name of the parcel of land and its number in the list from the 1963 Amalgamation order has been added, along with a link to a document from the Maori Land Court’s historic records ‘The Tapuirau Title Investigation from 1887’.

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TUKU REO TUKU MOURI

TE REO RANGATIRA SCHOLAR DEAN KAHU

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Manutahi Marae chairman Dean Kahu knows all about the commitment needed to reclaim te reo Māori for his whānau, marae and iwi.

Last year he moved to Auckland to study te reo Māori fulltime in a one-year full immersion rumaki reo programme at Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa.

Dean and his wife Rondelle had prepared themselves for a tough year. He found part-time night work in Auckland – 12-hour shifts from 8pm – while Rondelle stayed in Patea to continue running their rural mail business.

A couple of months after he started studying, he heard of the inaugural $50,000 2023 Parininihi ki Waitōtara (PKW) Te Reo Rangatira Scholarship aimed at tauira in fulltime, rumaki reo programmes. Candidates needed to be resident in Taranaki and return to Taranaki on completion of their programme to contribute back to the aspirations of Taranaki iwi whānui.

Dean, a former regular army soldier and police officer who in recent years has been instrumental in bringing community-based education programmes to Manutahi Marae, applied for the scholarship and was successful.

“Tino waimārie au,” he said. “He mihi nui tēnei ki Parininihi ki Waitōtara mō te koha. I’m very very grateful for that grant because it got me started. The funding really helped on this reo journey.”

Born and raised in the rohe of Pakakohi, and with whakapapa also to Ngāruahine, Ngāti Tama, Ngaa Rauru and Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Dean said he and his siblings were a product of generations affected by colonisation.

“We looked after the back, and we still do that. There was a real whakamā and sadness about trying to speak te reo.

The way we were raised is a byproduct of colonisation. I want to change the narrative of my family ... whakamana the reo on the marae.”

He’s also strongly motivated by a desire to have his South Taranaki iwi, Pakakohi, more widely acknowledged and recognised.

“Growing up, we didn’t even know that Pakakohi existed.

Pakakohi is a story of an iwi imprisoned as a whole for three years in 1869, who were removed from their land and who lost everything. Seventy-four men sentenced to hard labour in Dunedin, 18 died and were buried in paupers’ graves. This is a story that deserves to be more widely known.”

“The reo is an important part of standing up and speaking for us, fighting for recognition of Pakakohi tūpuna. What’s in my head in Pākehā, I want to get out in te reo Māori.”

Liana Poutu, Te Rau Manawaora, the PKW Trust Te Rau Toi Tauira/Chairperson describes the commitment from whānau in Taranaki reclaiming te reo Māori as inspirational.

“We looked after the back, and we still do that. There was a real whakamā and sadness about trying to speak te reo. The way we were raised is a byproduct of colonisation. I want to change the narrative of my family ... whakamana the reo on the marae.”

Dean Kahu

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“If we have mātua who are fluent, they will be supporting their own tamariki mokopuna on their te reo journey. Our hope is that this will permeate through generations.”

Liana Poutu

“We saw whānau and friends so committed to te reo that they were giving up full-time employment and shifting to another rohe to regain te reo. That’s a big commitment and a big sacrifice. It shows there is such a love for our reo.

We should always be trying to support whānau to regain te reo.”

Acknowledging the collaboration with the Toi Foundation, Liana says the trust was proud to be able to support te reo Māori revitalisation in Taranaki with two scholarships in 2023. Alongside Dean, Tiana Rarawa Capper, who was studying at Te Wānanga o Raukawa, was also awarded a PKW scholarship of $25,000.

The trust’s long-term vision is that scholarship recipients contribute to a bigger pool of te reo Māori speakers in Taranaki, influencing intergenerational language learning.

“If we have mātua who are fluent, they will be supporting their own tamariki mokopuna on their te reo journey. Our hope is that this will permeate through generations,” Liana says.

“I think that if our tūpuna had known what the impact of colonisation and not speaking te reo Māori to their tamariki mokopuna would be, they would have chosen a different path. This is our opportunty to contribute to the healing of that long-standing mamae. It may be small, but it’s still a contribution.”

After a year of rumaki reo, Dean is now much more confident to kōrero Māori. He’s passionate about how he can contribute to language revitalisation in Taranaki. And he’s decided to continue his te reo learning journey parttime this year in Auckland. This will allow him to return home throughout the year to continue his work on the marae before returning home for good.

“The reo changes so many things. One year wasn’t enough.

It was the beginning, not the pinnacle. He pikinga poupou.”

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TŪ MAI TAMA MANAWANUI TAMA MANAWAROA! SMALL BUT MIGHTY - HOSTS NGĀTI TAMA TAKE OUT THE TARANAKI TŪ MAI TITLE

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Ngāti Tama, the smallest iwi in Taranaki, hosted the 2023 Taranaki Tū Mai with pride and manaakitanga – and also celebrated a sweet victory.

“They met the challenge and did a great job of hosting the event,” says Wharehoka Wano, Taranaki Tū Mai Trust Tiamana (Chair) and Tumu Whakarito (CEO) of Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust.

“All festivals follow the same format and kaupapa – it’s all around whanaungatanga, kotahitanga, unity and Taranakitanga; celebrating our identity.”

Wharehoka Wano

He says the northern-most iwi in Taranaki showed fine manaakitanga.

“They collated more points than everybody else in terms of participation and winning some of the competitive events, but the thing I measure that (success) on is the pride Ngāti Tama displayed wearing their uniforms and logo… that was infectious and their positive energy filled the wairua cup,” says Wharehoka.

“What really excited me for 2023 was that it was the eighth presentation of Tū Mai, so that means all the eight iwi have now hosted the event.”

The previous Taranaki Tū Mai was hosted by Ngāti Ruanui in 2022, after it was put off for a year in 2021 because of the pandemic.

The celebration of culture, sport and manaakitanga is meant to run every second year, but to keep the dates in-sync going forward, Ngāti Tama hosted the event last November.

“All festivals follow the same format and kaupapa – it’s all around whanaungatanga, kotahitanga, unity and Taranakitanga; celebrating our identity,” says Wharehoka.

The number of participants continues to rise each year, and for the Ngāti Tama event more than 3,000 attendees registered.

Raymond Tuuta, who was on the Ngāti Tama organising committee, says even though the iwi had the smallest rohe, they were confident about their ability to host and organise the uplifting celebration.

Which, they did, beginning with a spectacular pōwhiri at Pukearuhe Marae.

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Afterwards, the competitions and kapa haka were held at sports grounds and facilities in Waitara.

Even though the iwi had less than a year to prepare for the event (because of the realignment of Taranaki Tū Mai dates), committee members were unfazed and swung into action.

“What the Ngāti Tama iwi have achieved is pretty remarkable given our starting position,” says Raymond of the organising committee, which included Patricia (Lungi) O’Carroll-Leota, Rangimokai Knuckey, Sally Wooller and Ashlee Fenech.

“Taranaki Tū Mai has always been a kaupapa that I have regarded as one of the best gatherings that we could ever do as Ngā Iwi o Taranaki, because it’s a space where we can come together and actually be whānau and strengthen our whakapapa connections.”

Te Rau Manawaora / PKW Trust Te Rau Toi Tauira Chair Liana Poutu says the organisation is a long-time supporter of the biennial event, giving financial help through its community grants programme.

“Taranaki Tū Mai is a celebration of our Taranakitanga, of us being connected to the eight iwi of Taranaki. It’s the

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one kaupapa that brings the iwi together in a way that’s an outlet for our competitive streak, but it’s also a great way to hang out with our whānau.”

Because the Taranaki Tū Mai is hosted by a different iwi each time, the event moves around the maunga.

“Many of us whakapapa to a number of iwi but for Taranaki Tū Mai you have to choose one and so loyalty and allegiances are tested,” she laughs.

“It’s a beautiful celebration of us – there’s sports, debating, kapa haka, there’s kaumātua sports, there’s tamariki games... It’s just a beautiful way for the eight iwi to come together.”

The next Taranaki Tū Mai will be held in 2025 and will be hosted by Taranaki Iwi.

“It’s a beautiful celebration of us – there’s sports, debating, kapa haka, there’s kaumātua sports, there’s tamariki games...

It’s just a beautiful way for the eight iwi to come together.”

Liana Poutu

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