Category: Blog (Page 1 of 2)

Work has continued on the establishment of the Taiao Operational Unit, being given the name by our Kaunihera Kaumatua, ‘Te Hā o Rangi, o Papa’.

Much work to date has been positionings ourselves within the Taiao space to provide working direction most importantly for ourselves but also with those we have, and need to enhance, relationships with, including Councils, agencies and industry.

Foundational mahi has included the designing and identification of the operational functions to best provide for, and drive, our rohe-wide, whanau-informed taiao aspirations. Our policies and taiao management planning define our key intent on how to reflect the collective environmental vision, values and position of our whanau, hapū and iwi of Te Rohe o Te Wairoa.

This has involved the recognition and understanding of the legislative frameworks impacting our participation and the kinds of tools and instruments we will need to improve our outcomes and leverage our input in decision-making.

We began regular engagement with other PSGE’s in Te Matau a Maui to support each other in leveraging our participation in planning processes. As a collective, we are involved in the review and drafting of our regional resource management planning documents for the Regional Policy Committee review. This approach has never been done before and is not in place anywhere else in the motu.

Various proposed legislative amendments over the past 12 months have threatened our mana motuhake and we have been active in the lodging of both written and oral submissions in opposition of Amendment Bills for the Fast-Track Approvals, the Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters), the Takutai Moana Act (Marine and Coastal Areas), and for Conservation reform.

We have seen an increase in the number of resource consent applications across the rohe, particularly with water takes and forestry activities. We have been working with Councils and industry to drive the process of pre-application engagement hui. This offers the opportunity for our Kāhui representatives to review the proposed activties with the applicant and have found it drives better understanding between both parties. This has led to a number of Kāhui-directed terms included in resource consent conditions. We recognise that much of our success in these spaces relies on relationship building with industry, Councils and agencies. This provides our whānau, hapū and iwi the platform to express their aspirations and expectations to support and enhance te mana me te mauri o te taiao in a framing appropriate to us and our mātauranga Māori.

At Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, we are committed to creating meaningful opportunities for our whānau and strengthening the future of our community. One exciting initiative that we are currently running is a pre-employment training programme called Te Ara Tipu, designed to equip local Wairoa people with the skills and experience needed to enter the construction industry.

This programme offers hands-on training and technical skills across a variety of construction trades, providing clear pathways to employment within Wairoa’s growing construction sector. It’s part of a larger vision to build a stronger future for Wairoa — a future where jobs are created, whānau thrive in sustainable careers, and our community becomes more self-sufficient. This is especially important as we continue to focus on significant projects, such as our 56-unit residential development, Te Rauā, and ongoing cyclone repair work.

The Te Ara Tipu programme, which began in February 2025, gives participants two weeks of practical training. Over this time, they gain essential skills in Health and Safety, Ladder Skills, Time Management, First Aid, and using hand and power tools. They also receive training in VR Site Safe, budgeting, nutrition, and communication. Beyond the classroom, participants experience real-life situations on actual building sites in Te Rauā, where they get hands-on practice, attend toolbox meetings, and explore a range of trades.

This isn’t just a training course; it’s a pathway to long-term employment. Upon completion, we will support participants in transitioning into jobs with one of our build partners or directly with Tātau Tātau. Employment placements are for a minimum of six months, with the goal of securing permanent positions. This programme allows whānau to gain steady work in the construction industry right here in Wairoa.

We also understand the importance of continued support, so even after participants start their new roles, Tātau Tātau will provide ongoing guidance to ensure their success.

The programme is supported by the Hawke’s Bay Jobs and Skills Hub, a part of the Ministry of Social Development that partners with construction and infrastructure projects, ensuring the right people are matched with the right skills at the right time. As Rani Morunga, Operations Manager of the Jobs and Skills Hub for Hawke’s Bay, puts it:

“It is awesome to be working with Tātau Tātau o te Wairoa on the Te Ara Tipu programme to support pathways into the construction sector for Wairoa whānau. We are excited to see how we can continue to enable training and employment opportunities in Wairoa to see more whānau moving into sustainable mahi.”

The programme will be delivered in two cohorts. The first cohort began in February, and we are now looking for candidates for the second cohort, starting in April 2025. Eligibility includes a restricted driver’s license (or ability to obtain one), the ability to pass a drug test, and transport to work sites.

By developing these skills and creating job opportunities, we are building not only homes but a stronger future for Wairoa.

Tātau Tātau is making significant strides in the horticulture sector, with plans to develop 70 hectares of land for high-production orchards and crops. A portion of this area will be dedicated to apple orchards, while the remainder will support a variety of crops to provide year-round employment. An additional 20 hectares were planted in 2024 with fruit expected to be harvested by 2027. This venture is expected to create 60 peak season jobs, with further plans to expand into post-harvest operations.

Tātau Tātau’s first venture, an 18-hectare apple orchard in partnership with Ohuia Incorporation, has already proven successful with support funding through a Provincial Growth Fund loan in 2021.

Robin Kaa, General Manager of Tātau Tātau Horticulture (Haumako), a subsidiary of E Tipu, highlights that the lessons learned from this project have been crucial to the development of future projects.

Haumako’s 109-hectare farm is currently used for grazing and cropping and have transitioned to high-production horticulture with 30 hectares of envy apples planted on Whakapau. With the ideal climate for this industry, Haumako is well-positioned to lead the region’s horticultural growth.

Tātau Tātau Horticulture has developed a six-year strategy focused on the viability and marketability of various crops, guided by a commitment to economic growth and sustainable, long-term employment. Minister for Rural Communities Mark Patterson visited the orchards in August last year, offering valuable support, alongside other government agencies like the Ministry for Māori Development and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Future plans include the construction of water storage facilities, orchard infrastructure, and the development of a coolstore facility, which will be crucial for ongoing economic growth. Haumako also employs 35 full-time orchard staff while upskilling local talent to address the growing demand for skilled workers in the horticulture industry. With a strong focus on developing local talent, Haumako plans to address labour shortages by primarily hiring from within the Wairoa community.

Mahia Beach Resort (formerly Mahia Beach Motel & Holiday Park), is proud to announce the completion of a three-month refurbishment. The iconic holiday destination officially reopened its doors over Labour Weekend last year, just in time for the summer season.

The resort has undergone significant upgrades across its grounds, accommodations, and communal spaces. The refurbishments included a fresh new look for the reception and café area, along with modern updates to the rooms, ensuring an enhanced experience for guests. The upgrade process took around three to four months, with a focus on revitalising both the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the site.

The Mahia Beach Resort has been operating under the leadership of a completely new team. This includes the recent addition of three new staff members who have joined the resort’s café, which opened in December, bringing fresh service and new offerings for guests.

Joining us at the reception is the charming Doreen Solomon, who brings a warm smile and a wealth of experience to our front desk. Doreen is passionate about ensuring every guest feels at home and is eager to share her local knowledge of the area’s hidden gems. Her husband, Hori Solomon, is also part of our team, working as a part-time caretaker. With a keen eye for detail, Hori ensures that our grounds are always looking pristine and welcoming.

In addition to Doreen and Hori, we’re excited to introduce Clem Schollum, our skilled on-site carpenter, who has a real talent for crafting beautiful spaces. Clem is focused on improving the park’s facilities, ensuring that everything is both practical and visually appealing. We’re also lucky to have Alice Hinemataura Solomon and Penelope Maraia Whaanga, two local wahine from Māhia, as our wonderful cleaners. They bring warm, and a friendly energy to the team. Together, this fantastic crew is dedicated to delivering an unforgettable experience at Mahia Beach Holiday Park.

Aayden Clarke, Kaihautū of Tātau Tātau Commercial Limited Partnership, says the revamped Mahia Beach Resort saw a significant number of bookings over the summer season, reflecting the high demand for a stay at this popular destination.

“We’ve invested in upgrades that will improve the guest experience while keeping the heart and spirit of the resort alive. This project reflects our long-term vision for the future of the resort, which will continue to serve as an affordable and accessible destination for visitors from around New Zealand and beyond,” he said.

We successfully acquired the 103-year-old Wairoa Star in September after its closure in May, following a trend of local newspapers shutting down in the current media landscape. The closure of the Wairoa Star had left a significant gap, especially for those not on social media, who struggled to stay informed about local events.

By purchasing the Wairoa Star, Tātau Tātau has helped preserve local journalism, safeguard jobs, and maintain an essential communication platform for the Wairoa community. Since taking over in October, the Wairoa Star has seen growth in its subscriber base, with 1,300 copies being printed weekly and around 150 digital subscriptions. This growth is a testament to the continued value of a local newspaper in a digital age.

We are proud to see the community, both locally and globally, rally behind the Wairoa Star. Members of our community have supported us through an increase in both paper and digital subscriptions, ensuring that the Wairoa Star remains a crucial resource.

The Wairoa Star has also received strong backing from local businesses, organisations, and community groups. Even in tough economic times, they have stepped up with regular advertising, feature participation, advertorials, and more. Local advertising offers businesses the opportunity to reach their core audience—those who may not read regional papers or access news online.

Aayden Clarke, Kaihautū of Tātau Tātau Commercial, highlighted the importance of this acquisition as both a preservation of a 103-year-old community asset and a strategic business decision.

“This is not only about preserving a 103-year-old asset, crucial to informing the community about what’s happening in the district, but also a strategic business decision. For it to survive, we need to continue to have strong advertising and subscriber support,” Aayden said.

The Wairoa Star continues as a weekly printed newspaper, with an edition released every Thursday, alongside a digital version. Despite the challenges faced by the media industry, the Wairoa Star’s ongoing success reflects the strong support and engagement from the community.

In terms of staffing, the Wairoa Star now operates with a small but dedicated team, including a full-time salesperson and a part-time content manager. We are currently recruiting for two journalist roles, with shortlisted candidates soon to be announced. Mayana Daniels, our advertising sales representative, shared her thoughts on being part of the team:

“It has been an awesome journey being part of the new Wairoa Star team. Meeting with local businesses and community members to develop solutions for their marketing and promotional needs has been so rewarding. It’s also a blessing being part of the E Tipu fold—I feel supported in my mahi and happy to be part of a kaupapa-driven, dynamic team.”

Tātau Tātau’s acquisition of the Wairoa Star has proven to be a valuable step in preserving local journalism and ensuring that Wairoa residents have access to the news and information that matters most to them.

For those interested in subscribing, please email subscriptions@wairoastar.co.nz for paper subscriptions or click here for digital subscriptions.

Leading the way for affordable housing in Wairoa

Tātau Tātau is making great strides in its Te Rauā residential development, with the first homes officially ready for move-in in February. Following a blessing and karakia on 16 December, a plaque was unveiled by Cushla Tangaere Manuel, MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, and Katie Nimon, MP for Napier, marking a major milestone for our commitment to affordable housing in the region.

Walter Wilson, one of the original Crown treaty negotiators, will one the first resident to move into Te Rauā, bringing to life a vision he helped shape during pre-settlement discussions.

The Te Rauā project is a key initiative aimed at providing affordable homes for whānau in Wairoa, particularly in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle. With 43 homes planned, the development offers affordable rental options, with eligible whānau able to apply for a Te Rauā Affordable Rental Grant, paying only 80% of market rent.

The development has been designed to meet the needs of the local community, with 30 larger whānau homes and 13 kaumātua-sized dwellings. At the heart of the development will be Tokotoko o Te Rangi, a supported living complex for kaumātua, ensuring they remain connected to their whānau and community. The development’s timing is particularly crucial as Wairoa currently lacks retirement facilities following the closure of the Glengarry facility due to North Clyde flooding in 2023.

The Trust is working with key partners, including Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga for tenancy management, and contractors like Iconiq Construction, PCS Projects, and Platinum Homes, while Quality Roading and Services (QRS), SCL, and Toa Civil have completed the civil works. This collaborative effort is supported by funding from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

With several two, three, and four-bedroom homes currently under construction, the development is on track to be fully completed by mid-2025. The Trust is also in discussions with Te Whatu Ora and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development regarding final funding for the Tokotoko o Te Rangi supported living complex.

Register your interest

Whānau interested in a home in Te Rauā can register via eoiterauaa@ttotw.iwi.nz.

In 2024, with the support of Te Puni Kōkiri and Te Aka Whaiora, we helped repair 24 homes across our community that were damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle. These repairs have been key to providing safe, warm, and healthy living spaces for whānau who were impacted by the cyclone and the June flood, ensuring they have a place to call home once again.

This is part of a wider effort to support the recovery of our community, focusing on long-term housing solutions that truly benefit our people. We’ve been fortunate to partner with three amazing local Māori building companies—M K Tipoki Building, Red Antler Building, and Ngawari Homes—to carry out the work. Their expertise, along with local subcontractors who provided plumbing, electrical work, painting, and flooring, has made sure that homes have been repaired to a professional standard with all necessary codes. Thanks to Te Aka Whaiora we were also able to ensure most of the repaired homes met healthy home standards with exterior wall insulation as well as underfloor and heating.

Our local community has come together, too. Wairoa Recovery and Red Cross helped by donating furniture and whiteware, and Te Whare Marie o Tapuae contributed heat pumps and insulation, making sure homes are as warm and comfortable as possible.

One of the whānau who benefited from the repairs, Issac Henare, shared how much the work meant to him and his family. After their home was badly damaged, they stayed at a local marae before being given a cabin while their repairs were underway. “The renovated house is now a place we can be proud of and call home,” Issac said, a reminder of how important it is to have a safe and welcoming space to come back to.

With over 35% of homes in the region affected by the cyclone and flood, it’s clear that there’s a pressing need for new homes and more repairs to existing homes. Our Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa Housing Strategy has both of these as goals.

The 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) was the biggest so far with over 175 whānau gathered in person at the Wairoa Memorial Hall.

We also had 70 whānau join online. A couple of changes this year was whānau registering their attendance before the AGM which meant less waiting at the registration desk on the day. We had more than 200 people pre-register and 86 whānau sending their apologies. We also had a lunch before the AGM. Originally, we planned to take whanau on visits to Whakapau Farm and Te Rauā, have lunch and then start the AGM but a change in date meant the visits didn’t work out. However, lunch before the AGM meant that whānau could have a kai while waiting for the AGM to start, catch-up with other whānau and have a read through the annual report before the meeting.

While the AGM was a great success, we know there’s always room to grow and improve. The sound system at the venue worked at first then failed after this. Whānau in the room and on-line were unable to hear at times and caused delays to our presentations. We’ve gone ahead and purchased our own sound system so we don’t have to rely on others and can use at all our events. We’re excited about making next year’s AGM even better, with more opportunities for whānau to get involved, no matter where they are. We’re committed to building on the success of this year, continuing to strengthen our connections, and making sure that everyone feels welcome and heard.

A huge thank you to the cooks, kaimahi, and volunteers who helped bring the event together. Your dedication and hard work made all the difference. Mai i te pae ki te ahi, te ahi ki te pae kua tutuki te kaupapa!

Thank you once again to everyone who came along – we look forward to seeing you again in 2025!