10 minute read
Whanake mai ai - Puia ki te hauangi
New milestones in housing, savings, grants
Te Kāhui o Taranaki continues to invest in our people and places by supporting whānau into secure and affordable housing, contributing to savings and delivering a range of grants.
Housing
In a new milestone, we completed our first new builds in Ōkato and Ōpunakē over the past 12 months. With the support of the joint iwi housing initiative Ka Uruora, eight new houses have been built and another home refurbished.
In Old South Rd, Ōkato, two new three-bedroom houses have been built on a property bought through the deferred selection property (DSP) mechanism as part of Treaty settlement, and another house in the area has been refurbished.
In Ōpunakē, six new three-bedroom whare on two large sites in Tennyson St were completed in July.
All nine homes are being made available to Taranaki Iwi whānau through Ka Uruora as affordable rentals. Ka Uruora supports whānau into shared equity ownership or affordable rental housing through a programme that helps uri build financial capability and savings.
The Ōkato homes are all occupied, and Ka Uruora is working through a placement process for the Ōpunakē kāinga, with the first two whānau ready to move in.
The placement process matches expressions of interest from whānau with eligibility criteria, which includes completing the Ka Uruora financial education programme and having an income range that fits the affordable rental solution.
We are counting down to construction beginning on our flagship development of 22 new homes in Ōkato. This development on the old Ōkato School site on the corner of South Road and Carthew St will provide16 three- and four-bedroom houses. Six one- or two-bedroom homes for pāhake and a community hub will also be developed and, in a groundbreaking engineered landscaping project, we will create a new wetland.
We mihi to our Ngā Mahanga Hapū who we have worked with on this development since its inception. Their contribution has been significant. We are excited about the next phase which will see our Hapū add their narrative and cultural expression to the project.
Consenting and design processes are nearing completion and we expect to break ground before the end of the year. Our goal is to complete the development toward the end of 2026.
Tāmaki Makaurau
Following on the success of the Moroki development in Glen Innes, Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), Taranaki Iwi were among iwi offered exclusive housing opportunities in a new apartment development in Ōwairaka/Mt Albert, Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). The 44 apartments of the Kaweka development are mostly two-bedroom with some one-bedroom units, and are being built by iwi property collective Hāpai Housing.
Our connections with various partners in Hāpai have enabled our uri to have priority access to this property. The opportunity is being offered with the support of Ka Uruora. Through Ka Uruora and its rental rebate, eligible iwi members were given an exclusive opportunity to secure a Kaweka apartment at a discounted rental rate before the development opened up to others. The rebate means affordable rental units can be offered at an average 20% discount on market prices.
Eligibility requirements included completing the Ka Uruora financial literacy course as a gateway to accessing the housing opportunity. A number of Taranaki Iwi whānau have been successful in securing apartments in the Kaweka complex, which is expected to be completed by October.
Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Priority access to exclusive rental opportunities is also being offered to eligible uri in Te Whanganuia-Tara (Wellington).
Te Piringa mai ki Te Aro – a 20-apartment redevelopment in Manners Street – is being offered exclusively to iwi Māori partners by developer Hāpai Housing as longterm, affordable inner-city rental apartments.
The name acknowledges Ngāti Haumia of Taranaki iwi and Ngāti Tupaia as the mana of the area.
Te Piringa has 16 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments in a redeveloped art deco-style building.
Again, a Ka Uruora rental rebate means apartments can be offered at an average 20% discount on market prices.
The first step to eligibility for Taranaki Iwi members is to complete the Ka Uruora financial literacy course. At the time of writing this report, Ka Uruora was working on applications with 17 iwi members, including eight Taranaki Iwi whānau. A number of one-bedroom apartments were still available.
Ka Uruora
Our partnership in Ka Uruora continues to support whānau to improve financial management, lift savings and access safe and secure housing.
A total of 158 uri of Taranaki Iwi have completed the Ka Uruora financial literacy course to help whānau build financial capability, and as a prerequisite for progressive home ownership or affordable rental housing.
Whānau participation in the education programme more than doubled in the year to the end of June 2024.
As at 30 June 2024, Ka Uruora has supported 21 Taranaki Iwi whānau into kāinga, either through shared ownership (sharing the purchase cost and ownership of a house until whānau can afford full ownership), affordable rentals or outright ownership.
As detailed above, a further six whānau are being supported into housing in Tennyson St, Ōpunakē, eight whānau are being supported in applications for Te Piringa apartments in Te Whanganuia-Tara, and others for the Kaweka and Moroki developments in Tāmaki Makaurau.
An increasing number of Taranaki Iwi members are growing their savings by signing up to the iwi savings scheme Te Uru Tāhua WhānauSaver. Membership has lifted to , 494 with combined savings now at $306,000. Te Kāhui o Taranaki supports uri enrolled in WhānauSaver by providing matched savings contributions to members of up to $100 a year.
Marae/Pā distribution
Te Kāhui o Taranaki has continued the level of contribution to our Marae/Pā through annual distributions of $60,000 as well as an additional $15,000 each year toward administration costs.
We are delighted to have had five Marae/Pā take advantage of the $15,000 administration grants over the past year. The administration grants have been put in place to alleviate pressure on our Marae/Pā as they build capacity and capability in day-to-day operations and deal with increased compliance, regulation and organisational loads.
Kōrari Pāhake Grants - A partnership with Triton Hearing
The Kōrari Pāhake Grants were launched with Triton Hearing team at the AGM in October 2022. Seventeen uri were screened initially with follow up diagnostic appointments scheduled.
The partnership agreement grants eligible Pāhake access to the service to receive a free full diagnostic hearing assessment. If, because of the assessment, it is determined that a hearing aid fitting is required then Triton agrees to a lifetime free care package (valued at $1,200 including GST) for the iwi member. This package includes follow up appointments and onsite repairs being undertaken free of charge for the life of the hearing aid.
This year we have funded seven pāhake with each receiving up to $1,000 contribution towards moulds, examinations or hearing devices.
Learner Me Hangarau Akoranga (LMHA) programme
LMHA is a Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) funded 6 month Tech course where participants learn real time tech skills, grow in a team environment, gain NZQA qualifications, connect to their Taranaki roots, and work on a project that massively impacts our region.
2023-24 saw the continuation and completion of the redesign and rebuild of our Taranaki Iwi website. The fourth Cohort of 13 new tauira commenced January 2024, and initiated the new project which was to create, design and develop an LoRaWAN-Based Smart Agriculture Monitoring System for soil testing.
To give the tauira a better understanding and exposure to all things Taranakitanga, a series of presentations and off-site visits were incorporated into the programme including day trips to Te Hawera LMHA Campus - Ngāti Ruanui, and the Whare Taiao to learn about ‘trapping’ techniques with the Patu Kiore team and a hikoi to Tapuinikau Pā. This gave the tauira an opportunity to think about more advanced technology design around the current ‘trapping’ systems being used.
Internships
Anika Bailey
Shaye Witehira
Cadets - Work Placement:
Makaira McGovern - Manna Home (transitional home)
Timara Wanihi (Wallace) - Te Kāhui o Rauru collaboration
Wheako Taiohi - Work Experience
Kodee Ngaia
Maia Toss
Terence Johns-King
Karoline Ison
Taihonoa Partnership Agreement with Te Herenga Waka
We were thrilled to renew our partnership agreement with Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, who have provided match-funded scholarships, grants and internships to Māori students enrolled at the university since 2018.
This year, $8,820 was paid to 14 akonga enrolled at Te Herenga Waka. We are grateful for their continued support.
Te Moungaroa Kapahaka 2023-24
Te Moungaroa was established in 2013 by Puna WanoBryant, Hemi Sundgren and Liana Poutu in the lead up to Taranaki Tū Mai in Te Wairoaiti, Ngā Rauru. The roopu is a collective of Taranaki Iwi uri and their whānau who have a passion for learning Taranaki Iwi kōrero through karakia, waiata and haka and are more recently led by Puna Wano-Bryant and Tonga Karena.
Our 2023 Taranaki Tū Mai performance was dedicated to Dion Ngaia, Fran Davey and all of our Taranaki iwi uri who have passed. Te Moungaroa performed at our Pāhake Christmas function in December 2023 and Tiripoua in February 2024. In addition to that, Te Moungaroa were a late entry into Te Kāhui Maunga Kapa Haka Regionals in March 2024 where they performed for the very first time a slightly amended version of their 2023 Taranaki Tū Mai bracket. Thanks to the immense talent of Puna and Tonga, all of Te Moungaroa compositions are original and grounded in Taranakitanga, and draw on topical events and issues.
Matiu Donald Grant - Recipient
Tēnā koutou katoa,
Ko Matiu toku ingoa, I am humbled to be the recipient of the joint PKW-Taranaki Iwi Undergraduate Scholarship. Throughout my predominantly Pākehā childhood, I often desired a connection to my whakapapa. However, through learning the reo of my tīpuna and taking part in the NCEA Te Ao Haka pilot program among other key components, I have begun my journey of reconnection.
Last year I was honoured to be named in the national Māori Football Aotearoa U18 Tane squad that represented Māori on the international stage, playing off against Hawaiian Indigenous Football. Within the exchange, we hosted community engagement with schools around Tāmaki Makaurau including Mt Roskill Intermediate and Edmund Hillary School. I found that our tamariki will be strong leaders in our community, all they require is a strong, encouraging presence throughout their schooling.
I currently reside in Ōtautahi, Christchurch where I attend Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University studying a Bachelor of Land and Property Management, majoring in Urban Valuation and Global Business. The 4-year degree I am undertaking, will serve as a base foundation of knowledge and understanding of the challenges that Māori face in the housing sector. In order to support the equitable development of Māori in the housing sector like numerous other underrepresented sectors, we must look to emerging leaders and kaumatua for critical guidance and support.
It was the greatest privilege to lead the student cohort at Nelson College as Tuakana Matua (Head Boy) in 2023. As a part of my tenure, I particularly wanted to focus on bringing young Māori and Pasifika voices to the decision-making table. I am excited to be pursuing my leadership development on the Lincoln University Future Leaders Scholarship Program, learning through mentorship and hosting public engagement projects to support growth among the cohort. I am excited to visit Ōrimupiko and the surrounding rohe of PKW later this year and intend on making the most of the time to reconnect with my whakapapa along with my whānau.
Nō reira, Tēnā Koutou Katoa.
(Matiu Donald’s tupuna kuia is Mere Waiaua Taranaki Ellingham and affiliates to Orimupiko Marae)
