Tui Tuia Issue 1, 2025
Chairperson's message
Whakarongo ki te tangi ā te manu
Tui, tui, tuituiā
Tuiā i runga, tuiā i raro, tuiā i roto, tuiā i waho
Tuiā te here tangata
Ka rongo te pō, ka rongo te ao
Tīhei mauri ora
Tēnā kōutou i nga iwi. Kia tangihia rātou kua ngaro atu ki te pō, haere, oki atu. Kia mihia tātau te hunga ora i mahue mai ki muri, kiaora ano tātau katoa.
It is with great pride and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you to the first newsletter from Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa. As we journey together, we remain committed to the well-being of our people, restoration of our whenua and wai, and the protection of our rangatiratanga.
Our focus remains on protecting our freshwater resources through the Wai Māori case. We stand alongside Ngāi Tahu in ensuring that the rights of iwi and hapū to our rivers and lakes are recognised and upheld. Our rivers, lakes, and streams are not just waterways—they are the lifeblood for our food, culture, and way of life.
In addition to advocacy, we are excited about the future of our community, as seen in initiatives like Te Rauā, our residential development, and the Te Ara Tipu pre-employment training programme. Through Te Ara Tipu, we are helping whānau build new skills, gain employment in the construction sector, and secure sustainable careers right here in Wairoa.
These efforts, alongside others, are all part of our vision for a thriving, resilient Te Wairoa—where whānau are supported, opportunities are created, and our rich cultural heritage is celebrated and preserved for generations to come.
Enjoy reading the articles that follow and thank you for your continued support as we walk this journey together.
Ngā mihi nui,
Leon Symes
Chairperson, Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa
KĀKĀ WAHA
This is the first newsletter for the trust and forms part of a larger communications plan for the organisation. Much like our social media posts the newsletter is aimed at telling our whānau about what we’re up to. You may also notice a lot of newspaper and media articles about us which is also a part of our plan. These media articles are aimed at the wider public and promote what we are doing and how we can do more. As a part of our plan, we will also be launching a new website soon that will hold all this information and more.
Tui Tuia was chosen as a name to highlight the role of birds in our natural world. Our tupuna referred to the sound and songs of our birds as a form of communication and oratory. The Tui, Tanemitirangi, was a famous bird of our rohe who was able to perform karakia. Tuia is a word used to describe weaving, to reinforce our name tātau tātau and the newsletter’s intent to bring all of our mahi and good news together.
Enjoy the read and keep up to date via our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Ngā manaakitanga ā te wāhi ngaro ki a kōutou katoa.
Lewis Ratapu
Chief Executive Officer of Tatau Tatau o Te Wairoa
FLOOD MITIGATION
Whānau at the heart of Wairoa: The impact of flood mitigation on our people
For generations, the Wairoa community has faced the delicate challenge of balancing the needs of the greater good with the protection of our whenua and whānau. Since the 1870s, over 200 hectares of Māori land have been compulsorily taken by the Crown for public works. Now, yet another major project is on the horizon — the Wairoa Flood Mitigation Project. This proposal involves building a large spillway to divert floodwaters from the Wairoa River. However, this comes at a steep price, displacing homes, impacting marae, and taking Māori land.
WAI MĀORI
Taking legal action for our whānau and freshwater
Tātau Tātau oTe Wairoa is taking legal action to protect the freshwater that has sustained our whānau for generations. This case supports Ngāi Tahu’s efforts to ensure the Crown recognises iwi and hapū rights over rivers and lakes, crucial to our lives and culture.
We are asking the High Court to officially recognise the rights of Te Rohe o Te Wairoa iwi and hapū over freshwater in our area. Our claim is based on tikanga passed down by our tūpuna.
Our Annual General Meeting 2024
Whānau come together at the 2024 Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa AGM
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.
Housing Repairs
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.
We are partnering with local Māori building companies for long term housing solutions that truly benefit our people.
Maurice Tipoki – builder contractor, Hine Rarere – homeowner, Stu Mayo – builders’ labourer, Cyclone Gabrielle, Full house repair – Like for Like.
Te Rauā development progress
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.
From left Tatau Tatau CEO Lewis Ratapu, Tatau Tatau Commercial CEO Aayden Clarke, MP Katie Nimon, Walter Wilson, Tatau Tatau Chair Leon Symes, MP Cushla Tangaere-Manuel, Waylon Tahuri-Whaipakanga, Denise Eaglesome-Karekare, Jason Rogers.
WAIROA COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
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.
We have protected local journalism whilst safeguarding jobs. Find out what you can do to help preserve this 103-year-old asset.
MAHIA BEACH RESORT
Mahia Beach Resort reopens with fresh new look under local ownership
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.
HAUMAKO
Progress in horticulture development: A bright 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 apple orchards, while the remainder will support 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.
Future projects include the construction of water storage facilities, orchard infrastructure, and a coolstore facility.
Construction training and employment pathways in Wairoa
At Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa, we are committed to creating meaningful opportunities for our whānau and strengthening the future of our community. One such initiative 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 and provides clear pathways to employment.
Te Ara Tipu – first cohort
Supporting Wairoa’s whānau and future generations
We have been working with Dorothy Adams, ex-CEO for the Social Investment Agency, and an iwi leaders working group to develop our social investment approach. This approach is about investing in people, helping them now and setting them up for a better future. The goal is to prevent problems before they happen.
By using data and evidence, we can better understand what outcomes are important, who needs help, and how to make the right support work.
Stop Press: Taiao
Strengthening Taiao leadership and partnerships for our future
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 positioning 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.
KĀNOHI KŌMIROMIRO
Did you know?
In February, the Ōrākau Remembrance Bill was passed into law. Hon Tama Potaka, the Minister for Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti, presented the bill, which acknowledges the Ōrākau battle site as one of the most significant locations in New Zealand’s history. This battle, fought in March 1864, marked a turning point in the New Zealand Wars, and the loss of life and whenua (land) deeply affected the whānau, hapū, and iwi of Waikato.