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Chief Executive Report - Wharehoka Wano
It is a pleasure once again to present my report as Tumu Whakarito for the year ended 30 June 2024. While it has been a challenging and politically charged year for iwi Māori on a national scale, we have continued to push forward at home.
A New Whare
One of the year’s highlights has been joining Te Atiawa in their newly redeveloped flagship building Ngāmotu House. In June, our administration team – including our engagement team, Te Taiao lead and senior management – moved into this stunning space, sharing the fourth floor with Ngā Iwi o Taranaki.
With Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa and He Toronga Pakihi ki Taranaki in the same building, Ngāmotu House has become a busy and productive hub where we connect with uri and other tribal and Māori organisations.
The move has given Te Kāhui o Taranaki a hub in the heart of Ngāmotu that reflects, inside and out, a positive Māori presence. The external façade of Ngāmotu House has become a strong cultural symbol, and represents the parawai mā of Taranaki Maunga, wrapping around the building as a symbol of collectivism, protection and support.
On the fourth floor, our main meeting rooms have been named after our tongi – our tribal boundaries and key locations. Ōnukutaipari references our northern boundary between Taranaki Iwi and Te Atiawa; Te Whakangerengere and Te Tahuna o Tūtawa honour our markers around and on the maunga; the main boardroom is Rāwa o Turi, named for the southern boundary connecting us to Ngāruahine iwi and Aotea waka.
In Ōpunakē, we purchased the former TSB bank to develop as an Iwi space. Centrally located and on the main road, the whare has been refurbished and named Te Whare Kotahi, providing a place for uri to hui and engage in iwi activities.
Along with our Whare Taiao headquarters in Pungarehu, our new bases in Ngāmotu and Ōpunakē solidify the footprint and presence of Taranaki Iwi across our rohe.
Te Kāhui Pāhake
It has been a longstanding ambition to engage our pāhake more fully in iwi activities, and therefore particularly rewarding to see Te Kāhui Pāhake established and active in all our iwi spaces. We have been glad of strong pāhake support as we have travelled the motu to hui at Tūrangawaewae, Rātana Pā, Waitangi and Ōmahu Marae in response to the call by Kīngi Tūheitia for kotahitanga, and to numerous other events.
Kaimahi
Late last year, we were delighted to appoint Hayden Patene as Pou Whakatoka, engagement manager. The appointment reflects the importance of the strategic whenu Taranakitanga. As a wider team, and after hearing uri aspirations for cultural development and support, we are continuing to commit significant focus and effort to strengthening identity, reo and culture.
It was also a pleasure to welcome new Board secretariat Nadia Phillips to the important role of supporting the governance and operations arms of our whānau (organisation).
Building On Our Progress
The level of progress we have achieved is pleasing, as each year delivers important incremental improvements. I am forever grateful for the work of our operational team. They have connected with whānau and are building a strong presence within our tribal boundaries.
Our Toa Taiao are a team of 17 now and are making significant inroads in monitoring our awa and coastal areas, and trapping pests. They wear their Taranaki Iwi apparel proudly, and are forging good relationships in historically difficult spaces, growing trust in our community.
As an example, our interactions with the farming community have often been marked by tension because of the pressure the industry puts on our waterways. Our Toa Taiao are forming better relationships with farmers and improving community understanding of our taiao aspirations. I’m very proud of that.
Our engagement kaimahi are also active and effective, running an extensive programme reaching out to pāhake and taiohi, organising annual functions such as the Annual General Meeting and hui ā-iwi, and supporting events at Marae/Pā. And our administration team continues to provide the back-office support to enable our teams on the ground to do their mahi. My gratitude to these hard-working teams for their efforts to build connection for and with our people.
The Year Ahead
Te Matatini is a national experience that will be hosted in Taranaki for the first time in three decades. For ngā iwi o Taranaki, the event in February is an opportunity to manaaki our kapa haka community and our whanaunga from all over the motu. Te Kāhui o Taranaki is working closely with our wider tribal community and Te Kāhui Maunga (Taranaki and Whanganui) to prepare for this amazing occasion.
As big an event as Te Matatini will be, we also look forward to our own Taranaki Iwi events – Tiripoua in February and Taranaki Tū Mai, which we will host at the end of 2025. Planning and preparation is underway for both of these home-grown occasions which continue to grow as we cherish the space to be together, express ourselves and celebrate our identity as Taranaki Iwi.
On behalf of our kaimahi, thank you for your tautoko and manaakitanga.
Kaimahi
Operations
Taiao
