Hepetema 2026

23 Sept

Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Ngāti Pāoa,

He wā whakahirahira tēnei mō tō tātou iwi. As we move into spring, we can reflect on a period of significant progress while keeping our eyes firmly on the generations ahead.

Our new strategy, Te Huanui Taurikura, provides us with a 150-year pathway grounded in rangatiratanga, mana motuhake and he hokinga kāinga. Across our kaupapa we are beginning to see those aspirations take practical form, progressing our return to Ōmaru, strengthening opportunities for our rangatahi and whānau, and continuing our responsibilities as kaitiaki across Tīkapakapa moana.

The extension of the rāhui and temporary fisheries closure around Waiheke is another important step in protecting our taonga species and allowing our moana time to recover. This mahi reminds us that rangatiratanga is not simply something we speak about; it is something we exercise through responsibility, evidence, mātauranga and sustained action.

September also marks an important point in our governance cycle, with nominations having closed for the election of seven Ngāti Pāoa Iwi Trust trustees and the public notice being issued today. I encourage our whānau to stay informed, participate in the upcoming election process, and help shape the leadership that will carry our kaupapa forward.

There remains much mahi ahead, but our direction is clear: kia ū ki tō tātou rangatiratanga, kia toitū te whenua, kia ora te moana, kia whai hua ngā uri whakatupu.

He kōrero nō te Amokura:

Mauri ora ki a tātou,

Ka tika rā kia mihia koutou i tuku i ngā tono mahi ki a mātou. The response to our recent vacancies has been amazing, with so many talented Ngāti Pāoa uri putting their names forward to work for their iwi. The calibre of applications, and the passion behind them, has been something to be proud of. To everyone who applied, thank you for the time, effort and aroha you put into the process. Your willingness to contribute speaks volumes about the strength within our people.

Our immediate priority is finalising these processes and welcoming our new kaimahi, ensuring they feel connected, supported and ready for the mahi ahead. Alongside this, we are finalising our operational plan to bring Te Huanui Taurikura to life through clear priorities, practical actions and outcomes that matter to our whānau. Our focus is on turning our aspirations into delivery.

We also continue to stand firm and advocate for Ngāti Pāoa in the face of the Government’s legislative changes that seek to diminish Māori rights and our place in decision-making. Our responsibility is to uphold our mana, protect our interests and keep the aspirations of our mokopuna at the centre of our mahi.

Finally, e te whānau, please make your voice count. Whether in our Trustee Elections or the General Election, take the time to participate and vote. Talk about it with your whānau and encourage them to get involved, and help ensure our people have a say in the decisions that shape our future.

General elections are approaching, enrol to vote here.

Upcoming Events

Iwi Trustee Election

General Elections

RSVP Here

Tūtaki mai ki ngā kaimahi hou

Michael Phillips - Mātanga Taiao

Ka tito au, hī,

Ka tito au, hā,

Ka tito au ki te waka taua e,

Te Kotuiti Tuarua e tau nei,

Ka haehaetia te moana,

E te waka tapu a tāne,

Tū te winiwini,

Tū te wanawana,

Tū, tū tauira e.

He uri ahau nō Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāpuhi, Te Kawerau-ā-Maki, Ngāti Maniapoto hoki.

I join the team as Mātanga Taiao, bringing a background in Indigenous Studies and Archaeology. My studies focused strongly on indigenous knowledge systems, relationships with whenua and environmental kaupapa.

Most recently, I worked with Tāmaki Regeneration across kaupapa that connect people, whenua and community. In this role, I’m looking to support a stronger understanding and relationship with taiao, drawing on mātauranga Māori, tikanga, and both contemporary and Indigenous approaches to environmental stewardship.

I’m passionate about strengthening kaitiakitanga and supporting the protection of whenua and taonga for whānau, hapū and ngā uri whakatipu.

Kaiora Edmonds- Kaiāwhina for Registrations

Mauri ora ki a tātou katoa. Ko Ngāti Wai, ko Ngāti Toa, me Ngāti Koata ngā iwi nō te taha whatukura, ā, ko Ngāti Pāoa, ko Ngāti Whanaunga, ko Ngāti Hei, me Ngāti Kinohaku ngā iwi nō te taha mareikura. I tipu ake au i Whangārei heoi anō kei Tāmaki tōku wāhi noho i tēnei wā nei.

To do this job well is to contribute to the wellbeing of my own people and for the generations to come. I bring with me experience in the iwi space, working for Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira previously, and prior to that for Te Kooti Whenua Māori. E hihiko ana te ngākau ki te whai i tēnei mahi mō te painga o ngā uri o Pāoa.

He pukapuka hou: Ngā Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau

He pukapuka reo rua tēnei nā Michelle Wilson (Hauraki – Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Maru) rāua ko Tia Saofia (Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāti Maru) mō ngā maunga o Tāmaki. He mea whakamāori e Tāne Karamaina, he mea whakaputa e te

Check out one of the latest publications Ngā Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau I The Maunga of Tāmaki Makaurau, a flip book in both te reo Māori and English, that explores the different maunga across Tāmaki Makaurau.

These pukapuka are available now for borrowing at many local libraries across the motu! If you want to purchase your own copy here.

Building whānau preparedness together

Ngāti Pāoa Iwi Trust and Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust recently partnered with Auckland Emergency Management to provide First Aid and Psychological First Aid training for whānau, with the courses delivered by New Zealand Red Cross.

Ten learners completed the First Aid course, and 13 took part in Psychological First Aid training. The wānanga strengthened practical response skills, increased understanding of the psychosocial impacts of emergencies and created a supportive space for whānau to learn together. Participants spoke positively about the opportunity to connect, strengthen their relationships and take their learning home to their whānau. This kaupapa is part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening whānau preparedness, connection and resilience across our iwi.

“Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori”

E ngā pītau whakarei o te waka o te reo Māori, ōtirā o te iwi o Ngāti Paoa, taipari atu ana te tai o mihi ki a koutou e noho mai nā i ō koutou kāinga, marae, tūrangawaewae hoki.

On 14 September 1972, a call for the recognition and revitalisation of te reo Māori was presented by representatives of Ngā Tamatoa, Victoria University's Te Reo Māori Society, and the New Zealand Māori Students Association in the form of a petition with over 30,000 signatures to Parliament.

Although the objectives of the petition have not been fully achieved, many changes to which we owe our gratitude have been inspired by the petitioners.

In 1985, during the WAI 11 Māori language claim, Tā Hēmi Henare coined the phrase: Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori. Māori language is the lifeforce of the mana Māori. The Waitangi Tribunal upheld the claim in 1986, ruling that te reo Māori was a taonga that the Crown had a duty to protect under the Treaty of Waitangi.

On the 1st of August 1987, five years after the establishment of the first kōhanga reo (Māori language nest) in Wainuiomata, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission) was established and te reo Māori became the first official language of Aotearoa.

Since then, numerous Māori language initiatives including the Ngāti Pāoa Iwi Trust, Me He Kuaka Reo o te Kāinga programme established on the 7th February 2023 have flourished. We currently have 16 whānau enrolled in Level 1, and 18 in Level 2, our biggest class yet.

Let us be inspired by the words of Tā Hemi Henare and show gratitude to those who have fought, and continue to fight, for the protection and revitalisation of te reo Māori.

Tīhei mauriora!

Opportunities

See below a range of activities with some of our partners.

AUT Te Manu Taki – Māori School Engagement & Partnerships Lead- to apply see here.
This pivotal role sits within Brand & Marketing Services and the Office of Māori Advancement, and reports to the Director Future Student with a dotted line into Tu Pouhono.

Board opportunity for Tātaki Auckland Unlimited- to read more or apply, see link here.
Auckland Council is seeking candidates for an appointment to the Tātaki Auckland Unlimited board.
Te Waiu O Aotearoa Trust Scholarships | Westpac NZ- Annual scholarships are now available to support Māori who are studying a general business-related (including technology); or banking and finance-related degree. Applications close on the 4th of October- see link here.
Field Officer opportunities with the Tūpuna Maunga Authority team. These roles are a great opportunity for people who enjoy being outdoors, working with communities, and supporting the care and protection of our Tūpuna Maunga across Tāmaki Makaurau.
To find out more and apply, follow the link here.