Rāmere 27 Huitanguru 2026 | Friday 27 February 2026

The following information is in this pānui:



This section in our pānui "Whakanuia"

is to celebrate and recognise the mahi and achievements of our whānau – he uri o Tamaterā.

Got something special to celebrate?

Share your whānau’s mahi, achievements, or milestones with us by emailing admin@tamatera.iwi.nz.

Oranga Rangatahi

Blake Young Explorers Program

 Registrations 2026

We are happy to announce that the Registrations for BLAKE Young Explorers (Sir Peter Blake Trust) are now open.

From 14–16 April 2026, 20 rangatahi will travel to Whangateau Holiday Park (North Tāmaki Makaurau) for three days of exploration, learning and connecting deeply with Te Taiao. Guided by the BLAKE Young Explorers team, our rangatahi will take part in activities such as snorkelling, surfing, hiking and kiwi spotting night walks - all designed to strengthen their relationship with Tangaroa, Tāne Māhuta, and the natural world around them.

This kaupapa is all about building confidence, leadership, teamwork, and a strong appreciation of our moana and whenua, while creating awesome memories alongside other Ngāti Tamaterā rangatahi.

Wānanga Details:

Dates: Tuesday 14 - Thursday 16 April 2026

Location: Whangateau Holiday Park, North Tāmaki Makaurau

Ages: 11–12 year old

Spaces: Limited to 20 rangatahi

Transport: Pick up and drop off points in Paeroa and Thames

He Pia He Tauira Placemaking Pathways Programme ​
For Ngāti Tamaterā rangatahi living in Tāmaki Makaurau 

Nau mai, haere mai!

Are you a rangatahi aged 16–24 who whakapapa to Ngāti Tamaterā living in Tāmaki Makaurau? ​ Are you eager to gain work experience, build your kete mātauranga, and help shape the future of Tāmaki Makaurau? ​ If so, this kaupapa is for you! ​

Programme Overview: ​ He Pia He Tauira is a three-month, part-time programme running from March to June 2026. ​ It offers rangatahi the opportunity to explore placemaking, storytelling, design, project management, and creative activations while learning by doing. ​

What You’ll Gain: ​

• Paid, practical placemaking work experience. ​
• Hands-on skills, real experiences, and new learnings. ​
• Opportunities to connect with inspiring people and grow strong networks. ​
• Advisory and advocacy experience on real placemaking projects. ​
• Recognition of programme completion, including a certificate and reference letter to strengthen your CV and portfolio.

 ​

Programme Highlights:

• Six waananga (some including overnight noho waananga). ​
• Six online and in-person "Level Up" workshops. ​
• Matariki Graduation Ceremony in June 2026. ​

Support Provided: ​

• Dedicated budget of approximately $3,000 per rangatahi to support participation. ​
• Hourly payment for each completed wānanga and workshop. ​
• Kai provided at all sessions. ​
• Travel support available, including AT HOP cards or petrol vouchers. ​

Eligibility:

• Rangatahi aged 16–24 years old. ​
• Must whakapapa to Ngāti Tamaterā. ​



Mātangireia Wānanga Rangatahi

This year, the Oranga Rangatahi space is entering a new phase, in partnership with Ngā Waitāpara “Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki” and Te Mata O Kaiwaka, we are thrilled to launch our combined wānanga series under a new, unified name: Mātangireia. 

Mātangireia refers to the highest realm in the heavens, often associated with attaining the unattainable such as supreme wisdom and knowledge for the betterment of whānau, hapū and iwi. Mātangireia also focuses on the mātauranga continuum, intergenerational transmission of knowledge such as whakapapa and pūrākau. Localised understanding at a place where each generation adds to the `spring of knowledge’. Hotunui and his son Marutūāhu established a whare wānanga at Waiari, close to where Maru’s wives Paremoehau and Hineurunga lived. It was here that Hotunui showed his son some of the sacred taonga that were brought from Hawaikī to Aotearoa such as Matangirei and Te Awhiorangi, two highly sacred toki. These toki came from Taranaki, they were acquired from his grandmother Ruapūtahanga’s people. 

By aligning our efforts, we are creating a more cohesive, deliberate, and high-impact space for our young people, anchored in Te Ao Māori. Together, we are cultivating opportunities that nurture identity, leadership skills, holistic wellbeing, and a strong sense of collective belonging.

Look out at Hauraki Games - the first of several Roadshows we plan to hold throughout the year to promote our wānanga. New social media page coming soon, keep an eye out for updates!

Mātangireia – 2026 Wānanga Series

We will host three regional wānanga this year, each welcoming up to 80 rangatahi, aged 13 to 21 years. These events will bring young people from across the rohe together to connect, develop, and lead.

Please mark these dates on your calendar to ensure your tamaiti can participate:

Wānanga 1

Date: 7th – 10th April, 2026

Location: Manaia Marae

Registration: Coming Soon!

Wānanga 2

Date: 6th – 9th July, 2026

Location: Te Pai o Hauraki

Registration: Coming April

Wānanga 3

Date: 29 Sept - 2nd Oct, 2026

Location: Ngahutoitoi Marae

Registration: Coming July

Each wānanga offers a safe and empowering environment for rangatahi to:

• Strengthen their identity
• Build leadership capability
• Deepen cultural knowledge
• Whanaungatanga across Hauraki

We eagerly anticipate walking alongside our rangatahi this year as we continue to grow Mātangireia together.

Oranga Taiao

Pou Rāhui

Summer Rāhui Update

December brings the seasonal influx of visitors to Tapu and Te Mata Bay. With summer holidays comes increased pressure on our taonga moana — harvesting, litter, vehicle access, camping, and general strain on fragile coastal ecosystems. To protect shellfish beds and support recovery, the rāhui remains in place under a Section 168A temporary closure, allowing space for the moana to replenish and restore.

The Christmas and New Year period requires heightened vigilance. Kaitiakitanga must be actively shared by Ngāti Tamaterā — on the beach, on the water, and in our communities. Our rāhui volunteer roster ensured a visible presence along the coast at key times. Through watchfulness, respectful kōrero, and collective responsibility, we strengthen our ability to protect Tikapakapa, supported by MPI, TCDC, and the wider local community.

Summer also brings increased safety risks. More fishing, boating, swimming, and exploration means more incidents. Recent seasons have required serious search and rescue efforts across the wider Firth of Thames, placing pressure on responders and whānau. Our role as kaitiaki extends beyond environmental protection to the safety and wellbeing of all who enter these waters. Awareness, care, and shared responsibility are essential.

From Catchment to Coast

The recent cyclone and severe weather have again tested our rohe. A helicopter assessment confirms the whenua remains fragile and sediment continues flowing into Tikapa Moana. Across the Coromandel Peninsula, repeated storm events are compounding damage. Infrastructure may recover quickly; ecosystems do not.

Seabed condition now determines what survives. Sandy beds support oxygen flow and kūtai settlement. Mud-heavy beds hold little oxygen (anoxic = very low oxygen), are easily disturbed, and stress marine life. Flood-driven sediment lowers oxygen, releases harmful compounds, reduces spat survival, and weakens natural recruitment. Over time, shell-rich areas can shift toward mud-dominant systems where recovery is slow and uncertain.

This directly affects our taura kūtai restoration. High sedimentation means inconsistent spat settlement, lower survival, and increased restoration effort. Some Thames Coast and inner firth areas are already mud-heavy; northern areas remain more resilient but are not immune. The shift is cumulative — each storm builds on the last.

Ngāti Tamaterā therefore prioritises long-term planning alongside response. Through our Iwi Resilience, Adaptation and Climate Change programme, and our Climate Adaptation Wānanga delivered with Pou Take Āhuarangi and council partners, we are advancing catchment-to-coast solutions grounded in mātauranga.

Severe weather is intensifying across Aotearoa. Repairing damage is insufficient if sediment at its source is not addressed. The health of our moana depends on how we manage our whenua. We will continue to advocate for catchment stabilisation, seabed protection, and structural reform, and we encourage whānau to support environmental protections that strengthen resilience for future generations.

The weather will continue to test us. Our systems must evolve just as quickly.



Ngā manaakitanga

Oranga Ōhanga

Growing Enterprise. Growing Capability. Growing Our Future.

As we move into 2026, our Oranga Ōhanga kaupapa continues to build momentum. Over the past year we have laid strong foundations for Ngāti Tamaterā economic development, and we are now seeing activation across key initiatives.

Te Kūwaha o Ureia – Rangatahi Enterprise Pipeline

Our rangatahi enterprise pathway is up and running. Te Kūwaha o Ureia is focused on equipping our young people with practical business skills, leadership capability, and confidence to step into enterprise and employment opportunities.

This year we will:

• Deliver enterprise-focused wānanga
• Support rangatahi-led business initiatives
• Connect rangatahi with iwi business mentors
• Strengthen pathways into procurement and employment

Our goal is simple: rangatahi who are capable, confident and economically active within our rohe and beyond.

Ngā Pōito o te Kupenga – Iwi Business Directory & Procurement Pathways

Ngā Pōito o te Kupenga is being developed as our iwi business ecosystem, a way to identify, connect and support Ngāti Tamaterā and Māori-led enterprises.

This kaupapa will:

• Increase visibility of our iwi businesses
• Support procurement readiness
• Strengthen local supply chains
• Connect our businesses with regional opportunities

If you own or operate a business and would like to be included in Ngā Pōito o te Kupenga, we encourage you to get in touch.

Asset & Capability Mapping

Behind the scenes, work continues to better understand our iwi assets, workforce capability and enterprise readiness. This foundational work ensures our future investment and development decisions are grounded in strong data and long-term thinking.

Our economic development approach is guided by:

• Intergenerational equity
• Whānau-led prosperity
• Regenerative asset use
• 150-year vision thinking

National Engagement - Iwi Chairs & Economic Development

In recent months, Ngāti Tamaterā has been present in national economic development discussions through engagement within the Iwi Chairs Forum network and associated pou tahua (economic) conversations.

We have not only attended but have also been invited to contribute whakaaro into the national space - particularly across areas of procurement, workforce development, innovation, and Māori enterprise activation.

This is significant.

It reflects growing recognition of the depth of strategic work underway within Ngāti Tamaterā and the strength of our Oranga Ōhanga framework.

Importantly, this is not a one-way relationship.

While we contribute our insights into national-level discussions, we are also ensuring that national strategy, funding shifts, and partnership opportunities flow back into our own iwi planning and activation work.

This reciprocal approach ensures that:

• Ngāti Tamaterā remains visible and influential at a national level
  
  
• We are aligned with emerging funding and policy directions
  
  
• Our local enterprise initiatives are strengthened by broader Māori economic strategy
  
  
• Our rangatahi and business owners benefit from national opportunity streams

Our position is clear:
We participate nationally to strengthen locally.

Oranga Ōhanga must work at every level, hapū, iwi, regional and national - if we are to achieve intergenerational prosperity.

Looking Ahead

In 2026 we will focus on:

• Strengthening procurement partnerships
• Expanding rangatahi enterprise activity
• Growing iwi business participation
• Building long-term economic resilience

Oranga Ōhanga is about more than income. It is about mana motuhake, opportunity, and ensuring our mokopuna inherit a stronger economic foundation than the one we were given.

If you would like to engage in any of the kaupapa above, as a business owner, rangatahi, or whānau member - we always welcome your connection.

Haere tonu !

NPOTK Mentorship

Ngā Pōito o te Kupenga

Support Hauraki Business – Become a Mentor (He Tāngata, He Pūkenga)

Do you have business experience and a heart for supporting others in our Hauraki rohe? We’re seeking mentors to walk alongside local entrepreneurs and business owners, helping them grow in confidence, capability, and resilience.

Through a tuakana–teina approach, you’ll share your knowledge, offer guidance, and stand as a pou whirinaki – a trusted source of support and encouragement.

If you're passionate about giving back to Pare Hauraki, strengthening our local economy, and nurturing the next generation of business leaders, we’d love for you to join us as a mentor, click the button below to sign-up!

Ngā mihi nui.

Ngā Pōito o te Kupenga

Business spotlight

Chris Bailey Sculptures

Ngāti Hako, Ngāti Pāoa, Te Aupouri, Ngāti Porou, Irish

Of Māori descent, born in 1965 and a resident of Waiheke Island, Chis Bailey trained at Auckland University in the traditional Māori material culture techniques of working stone, timber, and flax fibre before commencing his career as a sculptor in his early thirties.

Gravitating towards the harder stones of basalt and granite Bailey developed form driven stone works in a larger scale while also developing his carving skills working in timber alongside carvers of Piritahi Marae on Waiheke Island to help dress the fully carved meeting house - Kia Piritahi.

Alongside his stonework Bailey commenced a Pou legacy project in 2005 to develop carved timber pou and have them placed throughout the landscape on Waiheke Island to function as visual prompts to engage the public in Māori narratives about the land and its history.

Bailey in recent years, has been working in bronze as it gives him greater freedom with the forms he wishes to develop.

Recognised for the high quality of his artwork as a senior Māori sculptor in 2005 Chris Bailey was granted lifetime Toi Iho status by the New Zealand Arts Council – Creative NZ.

Bailey has extensively exhibited and completed a number of public artwork commissions both internationally and nationally with a documentary on his life and works to date completed in 2010.

To see more information go to https://www.chrisbaileysculpture.com/

Recognised for Excellence

In 2025, Chris Bailey Sculptures was formally recognised at the inaugural Hauraki Māori Business Awards, where they received:

Ko te tohu whakanui mō te ringatoi / Creative Visionary Award

This award Acknowledged Chris Bailey Sculptures for his work as a Māori artist, designer, and creative who pushed boundaries and inspired through his art. This award honours individuals or collectives whose creative endeavours contribute to cultural, social, and artistic enrichment.

Oranga Whānau

Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust Iwi Membership Registrations

Kia ora e te whānau!

A friendly reminder to register with the Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust. By registering, you’ll:

• Have your say in trustee elections and voting on key kaupapa
• Access information, resources, and updates directly for whānau and marae
• Ensure your whakapapa is connected and recognised within the iwi register
• Be part of shaping the future of Ngāti Tamaterā through a strong collective voice

It only takes a few minutes to register – and your registration ensures you and your whānau can fully benefit from the mahi of the Trust.

Waitangi ki Ōmaru – He Rā Whakanui

Ngāti Tamaterā held a registration stall at Waitangi ki Ōmaru on Waitangi Day, connecting with whānau throughout a vibrant and uplifting day. It was wonderful to see whānau out enjoying the beautiful entertainment, kai, wai, moana, waka ama, line dancing, tākaro, and so much more, all set against the backdrop of our coast.

Waitangi Day is an important time for whānau to come together — to be visible, to celebrate who we are, and to acknowledge our shared history and responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Seeing our people out and about, connecting, laughing, and celebrating our national day was a strong reminder of the importance of community, culture, and place.

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who stopped by to kōrero and register — we look forward to staying connected.



General Elections 2026 – Our Voice, Our Future

In 2026, Aotearoa heads to the polls on the 7th of November, and our voice matters.

General elections shape the decisions that affect our whānau every day: housing, education, environmental protection, employment, health, and the future of Te Tiriti partnerships. These policies influence funding for kura, support for rangatahi, protection of our taiao, and the wellbeing of our kaumātua.

Voting is more than ticking a box; it is a way to honour those who came before us and to shape the world our tamariki will inherit. Whether you are voting for the first time or have voted many times before, your participation strengthens our collective influence.

Make sure you are enrolled, informed, and ready.

When we vote, we show up for our whānau, our whenua, and our future.

Oranga Mātauranga

Ko Te Reo Pakiaka 2026 – Year 2 Enrolments Opening Soon! Watch this Sapce

Following a strong and inspiring first year in 2025, Ngāti Tamaterā is proud to continue our partnership with Tāwhaki and Te Whare Tāhuhu Kōrero o Hauraki to deliver Ko Te Reo Pakiaka in 2026.

Centred in kaupapa Māori values of whakawhanaungatanga, ako ā-hapori and manaakitanga, this programme weaves together te reo Māori, Hauraki dialect, and our taiao. Across three intakes, tauira engaged in regular online tutorials and Tikanga Tūrei sessions, deepening their identity, strengthening their reo, and reconnecting to whānau and iwi.

The impact has been powerful with whānau learning together, using karakia at home and on the marae, growing in confidence to kōrero at hui, and building stronger connections to Haurakitanga.

The kaupapa is delivered by experienced kaiako and supported through Zoom and online resources, the programme is accessible and culturally anchored.



Year 2 begins April 2026. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to begin or continue your reo journey, this is it.

Join us — strengthen your reo, your identity, and your connection to Ngāti Tamaterā. Registration Link and pānui coming soon.

Financial Literacy & Home Ownership Pathways

We’re pleased to share that Ngāti Tamaterā will be working alongside trusted partners to deliver financial literacy and home ownership readiness programmes for whānau in 2026.

If you’re thinking about buying your first home, planning ahead, or wanting to better understand budgeting, lending, and long-term financial planning, these programmes are designed with you in mind. Our focus is on building confidence, knowledge, and practical steps toward secure and sustainable home ownership.

This is about strengthening whānau capability and creating real pathways into healthy, affordable homes — including future papakāinga opportunities.

More details will be shared soon. If you’re interested, keep an eye out and be ready to register.

Pānuitanga Hapori

Ngāti Tamaterā attended the National Iwi Chairs Forum (NICF) hui held at Waitangi from 2–4 February 2026, alongside over 390 iwi leaders, trustees, and senior executives from across Aotearoa. The hui provided a strong platform to advance collective iwi priorities and strengthen national coordination.



Key focus areas included a showcase of Te Tai Tokerau iwi and kaupapa, the launch of the Piki app supporting te reo Māori auto-text, discussions on collective insurance solutions for marae and papakāinga, updates on legislative reforms and submissions, and coordinated responses to severe weather events affecting iwi nationwide. Pou workshops enabled in-depth kōrero across tangata, taiao, tahua, tikanga, and constitutional matters.

A regional session with the Prime Minister and Ministers allowed each region to present key priorities and challenges. Membership of NICF continues to provide Ngāti Tamaterā with direct influence, shared advocacy, and access to collective solutions that support iwi resilience, rangatiratanga, and long-term wellbeing.