Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust

🍃 PLANTING THE FUTURE AT PARITŪ STATION As Rata Forest Management have said, it is incredibly inspiring to see the Trustees of Tāmanuhiri Tūtū Poroporo Iwi Trust and Tātau Tātau o te Wairoa Iwi Trust come together to plant Tōtara seedlings at Paritū Station for supply to carvers for native timber whakairo (carving). The goal? 🌳 Native and commercial forestry working hand in hand to achieve soil conservation, enhanced biodiversity, nurturing taonga species for future generations, and commercial return. Projects like these are vital for achieving environmental sustainability, cultural legacies and long-term economic opportunity in our region. A great example of collaboration, stewardship, and investment in our whenua for future generations.

New report shows New Zealand out of step with climate change. A great report from Beef + Lamb New Zealand, who are calling for changes to New Zealand’s climate change policies on the back of new research showing New Zealand is out of step internationally in key areas. Tairāwhiti Whenua advocates strongly for local solutions in policy and regulatory changes championed by central government. The agricultural sector is committed to playing its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but the rules need to be appropriate and fair. This study raises significant questions about New Zealand’s approach. https://lnkd.in/guDT-HJQ

On 22 October, Tairawhiti Whenua (TW) held a field day hosted by our member, Wi Pere Trust Board on their whenua at Otara Station, Whatatutu. The Field Day provided an opportunity for other farms, businesses and Māori incorporations to learn about Wi Pere Trust’s 120 Year Land Optimisation Plan. All members of Tairawhiti Whenua were invited to be involved, allowing members to see and hear partners who have the same moemoeā of advancement and protection of te taiao. Wi Pere Trust’s land optimisation plan also provided members with an example of transforming to a sustainable future. Wi Pere Trust advisors Tim Rhodes, Gavin Sheath, Lachie Grant and Angus McPherson were on hand to present their whakaaro with regard to the land optimisation plan. As part of their korero, they were able to share highlights, challenges and processes that should be considered in the development of any integrated Farm Plans, supporting other members to navigate the complexities that exist over the management of whenua Māori. This field day follows on from the very successful hui held in Ruatoria on 24 September 2024 hosted by Beef + Lamb and Taiao Connect. Both hui were very well attended and received by those members who participated, with at least 80 individuals attending in Ruatoria and 50 at Wi Pere’s Otara Station. TW want to thank Beef and Lamb, Taiao Connect and Wi Pere Trust Board for working with and assisting our members in advancing their growth. “Interest by our members in both events was awesome and provides momentum for those willing to proceed to improve their businesses,” says TW Chair, Alan Haronga. TW also want to thanks its’ members who were able to attend and participate in both events, and we look forward to further opportunities to advance our taiao and businesses through collective impact and collaboration in Tairāwhiti. 💚 #tairawhitiwhenua #maori #whenuamaori

Katahi te wahine ko tenei! What an honour to have Ingrid Collins as a Trustee for Tairawhiti Whenua Charitable Trust. We are looking forward to this production, showcasing one of our amazing leaders in Tairāwhiti and reminiscing on the contributions she has made to our region throughout the years. Congratulations, Ingrid!

🚀 **Exciting News!** 🚀 Kia ora e te iwi, We're thrilled to announce the launch of our website for Tairāwhiti Whenua. 🌱🌍 As the largest network of Māori landowners in Aotearoa New Zealand, Tairāwhiti Whenua are focused on providing opportunities for the economic advancement of landowners as the kaitiaki of their whenua and taiao. **Explore our website to learn more about:** - Who we are, including our Trustees and team - The unique perspectives and important role that our network plays in supporting members to unlock the full potential of their whenua - Our mission of advancement and protection of te taiao Check out the website to see how we are working across Tairāwhiti. https://lnkd.in/gkn-DRFN

The future of Tairāwhiti is ours to shape. These lands once belonged to our tipuna, and one day they will belong to our mokopuna. The past few years have presented some real challenges for our whenua. Severe weather has seen major erosion issues, resulting in sediment and woody debris in our awa, on our beaches and impacts to our kaimoana, roads and our people. Although the recent and more frequent wild weather has aggravated the problem, this is not a new issue nor one that will disappear. What’s on the hills has always come down during these events, our people have seen this over decades of policy changes. Despite this being a reality of our erosive soils, it’s important that we are better prepared, and we work with policy makers to minimise the impacts of these events and ensure the mana over our whenua is maintained. History is a great teacher and what’s vital now is that we make smarter decisions. As advocates for a sustainable future for our land, it is important that we are informed about, and engaged with, shaping the future. We have learnt that we can’t leave the fate of the land to industries and Government alone. Tairāwhiti Whenua Trust represent over 197,000 hectares, across over 70 Māori land entities who collectively manage their whenua for over 100,000 individual landowners who have many aspirations for these lands. These includes working our whenua, creating meaningful employment and opportunities for our people, and most importantly protecting our lands to ensure they are sustainable for our future generations. We invite you to join us and share your whakaaro on these important matters as we work to ensure tāngata whenua are heard amongst industries and policy makers when it comes to things like policy development and issues impacting Māori land rights in our rohe. Mauri ora. 📸: Histories Teachings - some of the many debris events pre Pine Forest harvest activities

In July, Tairāwhiti Whenua presented to Minister Shane Jones, communicating the unique perspectives and insights as the largest network of Maori landowners in Aotearoa New Zealand and engaging in conversations about regional economic growth and opportunities to drive productivity, prosperity and resilience throughout the Tairāwhiti region. Tairāwhiti Whenua know how crucial strong local industries are for our communities, and there is a growing need for our region to be economically resilient. We see a vital role for the Government as an enabler of growth through the right policy, regulatory settings and strategic co-investment. Through these activities, Tairāwhiti Whenua members can forge their own paths, leaning into their own strengths and leading with the mana of our own people. We look forward to continued discussions for new opportunities and economic advancement for our members, landowners as the kaitiaki of their whenua and taiao, and for our region and whenua Maori collectively. #tairawhitiwhenua

A fantastic kōrero shared by the team at Rata Forest Management regarding sustainable land use in Tairāwhiti. The thinned trees will create light wells within the pine stand that will act as a nurse crop for native species to in-fill naturally utilizing seed memory in the soil and seed sourced from adjacent native forest seed islands. Over time the entire space will be in-filled with permanent native forest.

#meettheteam Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust is delighted to introduce our Catchment Coordinator, Pania King. Aio ki te nuku, aio ki te rangi, aio ki ngā mea katoa. Tihei mauri ora! Ko Tapanaua, ko Kahuranaki, ko Te Upoko o Tahumatā ngā maunga. Ko Tauranga, ko Ngaruroro, ko Ōkana ngā awa. Ko Wairewa te roto. Ko Mataatua me Tākitimu ngā waka. Ko Te Whakatāne, ko Ngāti Hinemoa, ko Ngāti Irakehu ngā hapū. Ko Whakarae, ko Waipatu, ko Wairewa, ko Ruakapanga ngā marae. Ko Ngāi Tūhoe, ko Ngāti Kahungunu, ko Ngāi Tahu, ko Ngāti Porou ngā iwi. Pania and her husband Eugene King farm in the Motu, 72 km from Gisborne. They won the Ahuwhenua trophy for Sheep and Beef farming in 2019. Pania is currently Mātanga Whenua Māori Advisor for Beef + Lamb NZ, covering Te Tairāwhiti & Te Waipounamu. Pania is the chair of the Motu catchment group. Pania also supports numerous Ahuwhenua blocks and is the independent director for Paea Partnership, here in Te Tairāwhiti. Tēnā koe, Pania

#meetthetrustees Meet David Battin, Ngāti Rangitihi, Ngāti Tuwharetoa David is currently the CEO of Mangatu Blocks Incorporation and Integrated Foods Limited. David has strong business management experience and has worked in accounting and primary industry organisations for more than ten years. Mangatu affording him more experience in international farming and food manufacturing, forestry, and carbon management. David holds a Bachelor in Management Studies (BMS) in accounting and marketing from Waikato University. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the local CAANZ Council. David is the current Chair of Trust Tairawhiti as well as the Chair for Ngā Kaitatau Māori o Aotearoa – the Māori Accountants network. David has lived in Tairāwhiti for more than 15 years and is driven by a strong desire to improve the outcomes for whēnua Māori. Especially through enabling economic development for the members of Tairāwhiti Whenua and the many people they support. Kia ora, David #tairawhiti #whenua #whenuamaori