Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa

15/08/2025

Have you heard about Tiritiri o Mātangi – The Waitara Spatial Plan?

This is a 30+ year vision for Waitara, created by NPDC in partnership with Manukorihi and Otaraua Hapū, and the Waitara community. The plan addresses big challenges like:

- Replacing ageing pipes and upgrading roads
- Reducing flood risks and other natural hazards
- Tackling housing shortages and creating more jobs
- Improving access to services and infrastructure

Come along to our pop-up to learn more, share your thoughts, and have your say!

Date: Saturday 16 August 2025
Time: 9am – 12:30pm
Location: 51 McLean Street, Waitara – Nga Ringawera Otaraua (NRO) Shop

You can also take away information and a survey to fill out, or complete the survey online. Surveys can be returned to the Waitara Library.

Let’s shape Waitara’s future together!

11/08/2025

E te whānau, nau mai, haere mai!

Our engagement series, Te Hau Tapuwae o Te Atiawa, is about coming together as whānau to plan the next steps for Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa.

Choose a hui or online wānanga that works for you, register here: https://teatiawa.iwi.nz/strategy-engagements/

Let’s kōrero, reflect, and shape the future – together.

04/08/2025

TE HAU TAPUWAE O TE ATIAWA – Your voice, our future
Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa is excited to launch Te Hau Tapuwae o Te Atiawa – our 2025 engagement series. This kaupapa is for all our whānau. Together, we will reflect on how far we’ve come as Te Atiawa, looking back on what we’ve achieved together under Te Atatū 2021–2026, and forward to where we want to go next as Te Atiawa.

👉We’ve prepared a snapshot of progress – framed through our three pou:
🔷Te Iho Tū – Resourceful & Secure
🔷Te Iho Whenua – Thriving with the Environment
🔷Te Iho Tangata – Strong & Connected

◼ These pou reflect our shared aspiration:
To be thriving in our identity, confident in our leadership, and strong in our collective wellbeing – for Te Iti (uri/whānau), Te Rahi (hapū and marae), and Te Katoa (our iwi as a whole).

👉HOW TO BE PART OF THE KŌRERO
◼Read the background paper – a snapshot of our progress and the journey so far.
◼Come to a hui near you or join online – kanohi ki te kanohi and online spaces to kōrero together.
◼Have your say – Our whānau and rangatahi-focused surveys will open at the end of August.

👉Register now to be part of the kōrero!
Find the hui or online wānanga that suits you and secure your place today.

Click the link below for everything you need – hui dates, resources, and registration details – all in one place.

https://teatiawa.iwi.nz/strategy-engagements/

Mā te whiriwhiri whakaaro e ora ai ngā uri whakatipu – Join the kōrero shaping Te Atiawa’s future.

31/07/2025

From figuring things out… to putting in the mahi.

Just two years ago, Lyric Williams (Te Atiawa, Taranaki Iwi) was still working out what he wanted to do with his life.

He was jumping between work and life options – until his nan, Sharon Erueti, sat him down and talked to him about hospitality. She was one of the first wāhine Māori to manage a hotel in Aotearoa.

“I finally started listening,” Lyric says. “That kōrero with my nan is what changed everything.”

Now 18, Lyric is one of two recipients of the Te Rau Hāpai Manuhiri Scholarship. It's a brand-new kaupapa that supports young Māori of Te Atiawa and Taranaki Iwi to create a career pathway in hospitality. The scholarship includes a six-month paid placement at Novotel Ngāmotu and Haukai Bistro & Bar and is designed to support our people to grow into leadership positions.

“Getting the scholarship has taken the stress off my shoulders. I was keen to do the mahi anyway, but this has been a huge help. The interview wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.”

It’s a big change – living in Bell Block, away from his whānau and his girlfriend. But the biggest change is mindset.

“I'm ready to do the work and show I was the right choice. Nothing gets handed to you on a plate. You’ve gotta do the mahi.”

Ngā mihi Lyric – we’re proud of you and can’t wait to see where this journey takes you.
Another uri of Te Atiawa and Taranaki Iwi, Levi Elkington-Waru, joins Lyric to receive the Te Rau Hāpai Manuhiri Scholarship in 2025. Ngā mihi ki a kōrua.

30/07/2025

Levi Waru-Elkington (Te Atiawa, Taranaki Iwi) is one of the first recipients of the Te Rau Hāpai Manuhiri Scholarship – a kaupapa designed to get more Māori into hospitality and into leadership roles.

“I feel incredibly grateful and proud - not just for myself, but for my whānau who have always backed me. Their support means everything, and I carry that with me into this kaupapa.”

The Te Rau Hāpai Manuhiri Scholarships is a first-of-its-kind partnership between Novotel Ngāmotu, Parininihi ki Waitōtara Trust (PKW), Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa, and Te Kāhui o Taranaki.

For Levi, hospitality has always been part of her life - at mahi and at home. She grew up in the whare kai alongside her mum, aunties, and kuia. That’s where her passion began.

The programme covers all the costs that come with , and ends with a six-month paid placement at Novotel Ngāmotu and Haukai Bistro & Bar.

“My hope is to manaaki our people, serve our kaumātua, and uplift our own spaces. I’d love to travel, experience manaakitanga around the world, and bring that mātauranga home.”

Kei runga noa atu koe, Levi. We’re proud to walk beside you on this haerenga.

Another uri of Te Atiawa and Taranaki Iwi, Lyric Williams, is the second recipient of the inaugural Te Rau Hāpai Manuhiri Scholarship. Ngā mihi ki a kōrua.

28/07/2025

Kia ora e te whānau – Registrations are now open for Taranaki Tū Mai 2025!

Before you complete your registration, we kindly ask that you read the important information below to make the process smooth for everyone:

🔷INTRODUCTION – ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM
We welcome all whānau to register to represent Te Atiawa and participate in Taranaki Tū Mai ki Ōpunakē 2025.

We invite every whānau member who wishes to represent Te Atiawa – whether in a sport, kapa haka, or as a kaitautoko (spectator) – to complete the registration process.

🔷PARTICIPATION (Over 16)
All whānau aged 16 years and over need to complete their registration form.
You will be able to select up to three codes/activities you wish to participate in.
If you don’t wish to take part in a sport or kapa haka, please select the “Spectating” option.

Whānau Under 16 years of age
Once a parent/guardian has submitted their registration form, a link will appear for you to register tamariki under 16. All tamariki under 16 need to have a parent/guardian also registered with Te Atiawa.

🔷TEAM CAPACITY
Teams will be formed from these registrations. Once a team is full, no additional participants can be accepted for that code, so please submit your registrations early.

🔷CONTACT DETAILS
Please ensure your contact details (especially email address) are correct. Most event updates and communication will be sent via email.

🔷REGISTRATION
To complete your registration, click on the link below.....
https://wkf.ms/458ROoR

We anticipate a large number of whānau registering and commenting on this post. We kindly ask for your patience as we respond to any pātai that require more information.

Please make sure you have read the information above first, and if you need further details, don’t hesitate to contact our tari during office hours....

Ngā manakitanga.....

28/07/2025

Kia ora e te whānau!
Just a reminder about our upcoming Whakangahau Practice and Whakataetae Wānanga this weekend at Waitara East School.

🔷Friday 1st August
👉Whakangahau Practice: 5pm – 6pm
🍲Kaitahi (shared kai): Please bring a plate to share
👉Whakataetae Wānanga: 7pm – 9.30pm

🔷Saturday 2nd August
👉Whakataetae Wānanga: 10am – 3pm

Plus! Our usual Wednesday Whakangahau Practice will still take place next week as planned, so please mark it on your calendars as well.

These practices are an essential part of our build-up for Tū Mai 2025. Nau mai, haere mai – let’s get everyone together, strengthen our kaupapa, and enjoy some time as whānau.

For ongoing updates, please follow the Te Atiawa Taranaki Tū Mai 2025 page.
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BDCHQZFWv/

23/07/2025

💙Te Atiawa Kaumātua Puanga Ball 2025 – Ngā mihi nunui! 💙
To all our beautiful kaumātua and their wonderful chaperones, thank you so much for joining us this past Saturday for the Kaumātua Puanga Ball. It was such a special time filled with aroha, laughter, and whakawhanaungatanga — a moment to truly come together and celebrate.

A huge mihi to everyone who supported this kaupapa —
✨ To our incredible whānau who provided hair and makeup services,
🎤 To our epic MC – from leading the Bus Stop to hosting karaoke, keeping the energy high during the kanikani, and wrapping it all up with kapa haka with all whānau present – truly an unforgettable performance and vibe!
🌺 To our creative whānau behind the epic centrepieces — as always, these were a hit and highly spoken of by whānau throughout the evening,
🏨 And to the awesome Devon Hotel kaimahi, who went the extra mile with their manaakitanga and service for our kaumātua.

📸 Here are the images captured from the evening – we hope they bring you joy and happiness now and forever.

He mutunga aroha more – your whānau at Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa

23/07/2025

20/07/2025

📣 Te Atiawa Kapa Haka – Practice & Wānanga Dates 📣
Te Atiawa Kapa Haka practices and wānanga are underway as we prepare for Taranaki Tū Mai 2025!

We have two awesome rōpū this year:
🔹 Rōpū Whakangāhau – open to all ages and abilities
🔹 Rōpū Whakataetae – our competitive kapa

📌 All practice and wānanga dates are in the attached pānui.

💬 To stay up to date with all kapa haka communications and pānui make sure you:
👉 Join our page:
🔎 Te Atiawa Tū Mai 2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1KXEuv3uMC/

14/07/2025

✨ Kaumātua Puanga Ball 2025 – Registrations Now Closed ✨

Kia ora e te whānau,

Registrations for our Kaumātua Puanga Ball have now officially closed. Ngā mihi nui to everyone who has registered. We can’t wait to celebrate this special kaupapa with you all this Saturday.

📧 All registered attendees will receive an email with more details about the evening, including important information to help you prepare for the kaupapa.

If you have any pātai in the meantime, feel free to contact our tari during office hours on (06) 758 4685.

Hei konā mai – we look forward to a night of kai, kōrero, kanikani and aroha for our cherished kaumātua.