Kei ngā uri katoa o Te Atiawa nō runga i te rangi, tēnā rawa atu koutou katoa.

Welcome to another edition of Hauwhenua. This issue includes stories on Tātai Tāngata ki te Whenua, new Pou Iho Tangata announcement, Te Atiawa tamariki 'Go 'Wild' day, our new Ngāmotu House video, Te Iho Tangata publication, a Ngā Poutahua Ā-Tau/Education Scholarships and Grants update, Taranaki Maunga Redress article, and a reminder to update your details.

If you have any queries, we invite you to contact us and for up-to-date information, remember to check our website and 'Like' our Facebook page.  

Our second co-hort of 12 Te Atiawa whānau recently completed the popular 10-week Tātai Tāngata ki te Whenua programme. Run by Pounamu Skelton (Te Atiawa, Taranaki, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga), the programme brings whānau back to Papatūānuku and an opportunity to learn first-hand about marā kai.

The interactive online webinars, Zoom hui, a designated Tātai Tāngata ki te whenua Facebook page and ā kanohi wānanga has proven popular with all participants. All were also equipped with a marā kit to get them started.

Whānau provided wonderful feedback on the programme:

"The starter kit just blew my mind! We are so grateful and really appreciate Pounamu time and energy. I’m 100% hooked!"

"I enjoyed learning a skill to help provide for my whānau and in the future, my wider whānau and community. Learning about the maramataka was awesome, and also connecting with me with  Papatūānuku and te taiao."

“He mihi kau ana ki a koe Pounamu me āu tini pukenga. Ki te iwi hoki kua kōkiri i te kaupapa nei.”

Keep an eye out for the promotion of our next Tātai Tāngata ki te Whenua programme later this year.

Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa is pleased to announce Nikki Walden (Te Atiawa, Taranaki Iwi, Ngāti Mutunga) as the new Pou Iho Tangata/General Manager - Engagement and Whānau Development.

This is an internal promotion as Nikki joined Te Kotahitanga in July 2023 as Pouwhakakaupapa/Project Manager. She starts her new role at the end of May.

Dion Tuuta, Pouwhakahaere/Chief Executive of Te Kotahitanga says Nikki (pictured) brings a wealth of management and strategic business experience and is looking forward to her elevating our work and impact in the whānau engagement and development space.

Nikki's current role as Pouwhakakaupapa/Project Manager for Te Kotahitanga has her working on our housing developments and other key projects. Prior to this, she was a Project Developer for Te Tihi o Ruahine Whānau Ora Alliance.

Nikki is māmā to three children, and many will know her grandparents, Edward and Roberta Walden, and her siblings Scott and Kylie Walden. Tēnā koe a Nikki mō tō mahi hou.

He mihi nunui rawa atu ki ngā tamariki i tae atu ki te whare pekepeke me o koutou mātua!
It was great to see nearly 400 tamariki and mātua enjoy some school holiday fun with us. It was awesome to see everyone and special thanks to our Bell Block Marist Rugby League U6 and U8 whānau who took care of the bbq.

If you are a registered member, later this month your household will receive our first edition of Te Iho Tangata. This is a six-monthly publication which highlights some of this year’s kaupapa Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa have lead and supported.

Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa now has more than 10,000 registered members across the world, with a majority of our whānau living in New Plymouth, Waitara and in the main city centres of Aotearoa.

It’s important we keep our whānau informed on the work we are doing and its alignment to Te Atatū, our five-year strategic plan. Our vision – Te Iho Tū, Te Iho Whenua, Te Iho Tangata sets our course toward Te Atiawa being secure, continuing to thrive, and remaining connected.

We'd like to mihi to all who submitted an application for our Ngā Poutahua Ā-Tau/Education Scholarships and Grants. We have again received a large number of applications and are in the final stages of confirming our recipients. Successful applicants will be notified over the coming weeks.

Recently the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passed its first reading in Parliament. The redress acknowledges the theft of 1.2 million acres of Taranaki and the desecration of the Maunga over 172 years at the hands of the crown. Click below to watch Te Karere coverage of the event.