www.nrm.co.nz

Poua ki runga, poua ki raro, poua iho ra ki te mounga e taumarumaru nei i a tatou te tangata me te whenua e hora ake nei. Nei ra ka tuku mihi kia ratou kua wheturangitia. Kua tangihia, kua mihia no reira e te hunga wairua haere atu ra.Ka mihi ano ra kia tatou te hunga ora. Tena koutou e te whanau whanui o Parininihi ki Waitotara, e te whanau whanui o Taranaki, puta noa ki te Ao.

It has been a hectic time since our last edition with a number of new relationships that have become formalised, and building projects that are near completion as we go to print.

I have also just recently returned from an amazing overseas trip, the details of which will be in the October issue of Whenua, where I had the opportunity to participate in professional development training with other global industry leaders.

The opportunity made me appreciate even more the incredible achievements

we have managed to be part of as we pursue our strategy, He Whenua, He Tangata, He Oranga, Land, People, Prosperity.

I take a look around at our Committee of Management, our staff out on the farms and in our Devon Street premises and the people who walk into our office doors on a daily basis full of fresh ideas and enthusiasm. For everyone wanting to be part of our growth and development I recognise that the whakatauki ‘he aha te mea nui o te ao, he tangata he tangata he tangata,’ is just as important today as the first time it was uttered.

In this edition we profile some of these people and the emerging relationships that will continue to foster our people, provide opportunities for growing our own workforce and potentially even foster new horizons for creating new jobs.

There are also timely reminders of our forthcoming elections with the new closing date at the end of August for receiving nominations and the need for shareholders to provide their banking details in order to receive their dividend payment.

Knowing the investments Parininihi ki Waitotara Trust has been making in our shareholders and beneficiaries are bearing fruit and that expertise is either directly or indirectly benefiting the wider Maori community of Taranaki is also worthy of acknowledgement.

I cannot close without acknowledging directly the passing of Rata Pue who was becoming instrumental in supporting the Incorporation through some tricky land issues. He will be missed at our annual general meetings not just because he could agitate the best of us, but mostly because he challenged us to be innovative and proactive leaders of sustainable farming practices.A challenge we endeavour to take leadership on.

Hoki atu ra e Rata, hoki ki te ao hurihuri, hoki ki te mounga teitei. Moe mai ra.

No reira

Courses delivered in partnership

For more information, contact Taratahi

Phone:Email:Web:

0800 600 333taranaki@taratahi.ac.nzwww.taratahi.ac.nz

GAIN THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS NEEDED TO STARTOR CONTINUE YOUR CAREER IN AGRICULTURE.Taratahi and WITT are taking enrolments NOWfor our part time and full time courses.

TAKING ENROLMENTS NOW

Manaia § Stratford § North Taranaki

Certificate in General Farm SkillsLevel 2 | Part Time | Rolling Enrolments

National Certificate in Farming Skills (Work Ready)Level 3 | Full Time | July 2012 | Jan 2013

National Certificate in AgricultureLevel 4 | Full Time & Part-time | July 2012 | Jan 2013

office@pkw.co.nz

WHENUA MAGAZINE

Editor Dion TuutaDeputy Editor Amokura PanohoArt Director Jeremy MoaPhotography Quentin BedwellGraphic Design iStudios Multimedia

PARININIHI KI WAITOTARA

Postal PO Box 241, New Plymouth 4340Physical Taranaki House,109 Devon Street West, New Plymouth 4310Telephone +64 (6) 769 9373Fax +64 (6) 757 4206Email office@pkw.co.nzwww.pkw.co.nz

ISTUDIOS

77B Devon Street East, New Plymouth.Telephone +64 (6) 758 1863Email info@istudios.co.nzwww.istudios.co.nz

PROFILE ONSHANE MILES

The day to day pace of his job might be hectic but Shane knows that he’s in the best place for growing his own skills

PROFILE ONBEV GIBSON

At the end of her three year term as a Director on the Committee of Management, Bev reflects on her involvement.

PORT NICHOLSONFISHERIES PROFILE

Collaborating with a number of other Iwi businesses to leverage better value out of their Crayfish quota is generating exciting opportunities.

TRADING AMONGST FARMERS

Unravelling the new policy by Fonterra is important for understanding the share trading environment

RANGINUI FLAVELLPROFILE

With her eye on a job at Taranaki Base Hospital Junior Doctor Ranginui has sage advice for other would be grant recipients.

NGARONGOMARAE D.I.Y

With the programme going to air in May 2012 the marae and its community celebrated their recent renovations

PROFILE ONTARATAHI TRAINING

With a Memorandum of Understanding in place the expertise of a nationally recognised training institute to create future Maori farmers is now on track.

LIVESTOCK FOR FUTURE FARMS

A common sense approach to growing stock for the PKW Farms has seen a pilot set up on Skeet Road, South Taranaki.

VENTURE TARANAKI

HALF YEARLY REPORT + BUS TRIP

RATA PUE -POROPOROAKE

“Originally from Coastal Taranaki, Shane has the dairy industry in his blood,his dad Vin was the factory manager at a number of coastal Taranaki dairy factories.”

Kathryn Kelly Calf Rearing Unit Manager and Robert Walden, Farm 13 Manager catch up with Shane over developments with the new shed.

Managing a health audit consultancy alongside of her governance roles Parininihi ki Waitotara Committee of Management member Bev Gibson values the opportunity to contribute to Maori development.

rowing up as the eldest child of Ihaka and

Mandy (nee Skipper) Robinson in Okaiawa,

Normanby, Bev enjoyed being part of a

family whose values were grounded in hard work,

determination and community service.

“My parents worked hard to support their family and

my grandfather David Skipper was very active in Māori

Rugby so we were always surrounded by people who

wanted us to do our best,” says Bev.

“I left school in 1975 with no qualifications but I went

nursing at Hawera Hospital firstly then to Taranaki Base

Hospital and worked really hard to build a career. After

becoming a registered nurse for a number of years I

focussed on Pre and Post Surgical work, ICU and

A & E and learnt a lot about the health system and

working in high pressure situations.”

With husband Nigel Gibson, Bev lived in Eltham during

her early years of nursing where they raised their four

children, daughters Tami and Sera, sons Lane and David.

Moving to New Plymouth so that their children could go

to NPBHS and NPGHS in 1985 Bev also started studying

extramurally at Massey University.

“Because of my own experience I encouraged my

children to make the most of their education. I thought

I needed to be a role model so they can understand

education is key to personal success and be motivated

by my endeavours,” admits Bev.

Completing a Masters Degree in Business Management,

Bev was also awarded a Charles Bailey Scholarship in

1989 from Parininihi ki Waitotara Trust.

“I had some knowledge of Parininihi ki Waitotara as the

kaitiaki of our lands primarily and that they provided

grants. But when I received my scholarship I made a

personal promise that in time I would find a way to use

my expertise and skills to benefit our people.”

G

By the early 2000’s Bev was working as

deputy CEO for Tui Ora Limited helping

the organisation develop its Quality

Systems and become accredited. Then

in 2005 she set up her own consultancy

Quality Visions Limited and is

contracted by ACC as Māori Advisor

for the Taranaki, Whanganui and

Palmerston North regions.

As Bev points out, “I wanted to apply

my skills across the wider Health sector

and so I get to travel around the country

supporting Māori Providers with their

Quality Management Systems for

setting and meeting critical standards.”

Taking on national contracts has also

widened Bev’s association with other

organisations and presently she is the

Convenor for The National Kaitiaki

Group.

The National Kaitiaki Group (NKG)

was established under and operates

within the Health Cervical Screening

(Kaitiaki) Regulations 1995. The

group is accountable to the Minister

of Health and is responsible for

considering applications for the release

of Māori women’s aggregate data

from the National Cervical Screening

Programme-Register (NCSP-Register).

Closer to home she has been the

Chairperson for Mahia Mai a Whaitara

– an organisation established to service

the needs of the Waitara community,

especially in the area of Mental Health

as well as being a member of the

Committee of Management with

Parininihi ki Waitotara Inc for the past

three years.

“I still remember when I had to

introduce myself to the Parininihi ki

Waitotara hui held at Owae Marae when

my father nominated me from the

floor, and my successful nomination

was seconded by Uncle Boy Wineera”,

smiles Bev. “I talked about my

professional career but I also focused on

my grassroots upbringing. That I have

lived and worked here all my life and

wanted to be available and accessible

to shareholders and also be involved

in making decisions about our peoples

assets that I could live with.”

Becoming a member of the Human

Resource Committee and Audit & Risk

Committee allowed Bev to see that her

skills learnt in the health sector were still

applicable in a farming business.

“I have really enjoyed my three year

term and feel really honoured and

privileged to serve our people. The

highlights have been engaging with

shareholders, having our hui go back to

the marae, seeing healthy relationships

develop with sharemilkers and other

strategic partners, mitigating risks,

reducing debt and bringing the

management of Parininihi ki Waitotara

back under our own control. I really

valued working with Hinerangi Edwards

to develop our scholarships to multiyear

allocations and am so proud of our staff

who are so articulate and committed to

our business,” reflects Bev.

“I hope to be given the opportunity

to serve our people again, but believe

regardless that our legacy is safe.”

Despite her busy schedule Bev makes

sure she gets to spend quality time with

her mokopuna, even flying to Auckland

to babysit son David’s twins on a regular

basis. With plans afoot to build a fale

in Savaii Samoa where husband Nigel’s

mother originates from, Bev and her

family will continue to put in the time

needed to consolidate the future for

their mokopuna.

Previous Page Bev at home in New Plymouth Top Enjoying quality time with her mokopuna Flynn Ihaka (5),Charlie Mohi (18 months) and Max Ngaiwi (3)is very important to Bev

0800 HRV 123 | www.hrv.co.nz 027 673 2239 | 06 769 6534 | paulr@hrv.co.nz

Tangata i awhina ki te kaingarunga ki te maraetau ana

We aspire to supportwarm and healthy homesto nurture our whanau

It all starts at homeso contact me now

to talk about yours.Kia Ora

Leave no home behind

Paul RangiwahiaNgati Ruanui/Nga Ruahinerangi

Owner/Director HRV Taranaki/Whanganui

PRODUCED BY

Port Nicholson Fisheries Operations Manager Shamoun Ishow from Iraq enjoys his work

PwC provides industry focused advice for public and private clients. With offices in Taranaki, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago, we have over 1000 people who are committed to delivering quality assurance, tax and advisory services. Tell us what matters to you and find out more by visiting us at pwc.co.nz.© 2012 PricewaterhouseCoopers New Zealand. All rights reserved. PwC refers to the New Zealand member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.

Na to rourou, na taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.We work with rural business in Taranaki to achieve their cultural, community and economic aspirations.

pwc.co.nz

Neil EvettsPartner06 768 3858

Taratahi Tutor Bruce Bailey takes Duane Luke and Ngawharau Apaapa through the fundamentals of pasture scoring using a plate meter

Finding and training the future Maori farm managers for PKW Farms has got one step

closer with the recently signed memorandum of understanding between Parininihi ki

Waitotara Incorporation and Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre Incorporation.

he enduring impact within Taranaki of discriminatory land laws and pastoral lease-holding arrangements that took effect from the 1850s right through to the

1970s not only resulted in entrenched alienation of Maori land but also contributed significantly to the diminished presence of Maori in farming.

Add into that mix Maori migration from the rural regions to cities for employment, the restructuring of this country’s social and economic policies and it is not surprising that in the 21st Century Maori Land Incorporations find it extremely difficult to attract the skilled and semi-skilled Maori workforce needed for their farming businesses.

When Te Arawa Actor, Cliff Curtis coined the phrase that “Maori should move from the traditional f’s of Farming, Fishing and Forestry to focus on Film, Fashion and Food” at the 2004 Maori Economic Development Summit held in Wellington, he undoubtedly had a narrow view of the importance of farming for Maori. After all getting up early on a cold winter morning to go milking might not be as appealing when compared to being in a Hollywood blockbuster film. And the Maori boy from Rotorua certainly showed that Maori could achieve anything in this world.

Nevertheless, as New Zealand continues to face the threat of emigration to Australia for higher wages and supposedly better lifestyles anecdotal evidence suggests large numbers of Maori from the Taranaki region are responding to the demand for semi and skilled labour in the Australian mining industry. As a result the ability to attract Maori, and Maori with Taranaki whakapapa back into farming is becoming more exasperated.

Recognising this challenge of putting the tangata back onto the whenua, Parininihi ki Waitotara Incorporation have entered into a memorandum of understanding with Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre who have successfully supported young New Zealanders into an agricultural careersince 1919.

T

Situated 11kms out of Masterton, Taratahi were initially established to support Returned Servicemen from WWI and WWII to learn farming skills. Then through an Act of Parliament; The Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre (Wairarapa) Act 1969; they became recognized as a leading training centre for the country’s agricultural sector to support New Zealand’s quest to be a global industry leader. In terms of oversight and governance, Taratahi reports to the Ministry of Primary Industries.

“Presently we have campuses in Masterton, Taradale, Hawke’s Bay (in partnership with Eastern Institute of Technology), Whangarei (in partnership with Northtec) and later this year we will be in Palmerston North (in partnership with UCOL),” advises Leanne Richards, Taranaki Regional Training Manager.

“After an approach from Venture Taranaki who had identified a regional need for skilled workers in the agricultural sector and the need for Taranaki students to have access to full-time agricultural training without having to move away from the region, our first Taranaki campus was established in Stratford in 2004 ”

“Then in 2009 we were approached by WITT (Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki) to partner in delivering agricultural training which we started in 2010. The growth in this training delivery enabled us in 2011 to establish additional campuses in Tikorangi and Manaia and now we have 18 students spread across our three campuses.”

Two Maori students who have recently taken up training out of the Manaia campus based at the Waimate West Demonstration Farm are hoping they can lead by example to encourage more Maori back into dairy farming in particular.

Duane Luke (Ngati Ruanui/Nga Ruahine) and Ngawharau Apaapa (Ngaiterangi/Ngati Ranginui) are enrolled in the National Certificate in Farming Skills (Work Ready) (Level 3) programme.

This qualification is intended to provide people with a broad range of skills from across the agriculture industry that would be utilised over a full farming year where students can then specialise in either sheep or dairy farming. As part of this programme, all students gain experience with farm vehicles, animal welfare and livestock handling, fencing, soils, water supply, agrichemicals and many other aspects of farming. The fulltime programme runs for 34 tutoring weeks and is split into three components – theory, technical skills and practical farm work. In addition students will also spend a large amount of time on commercial farms throughout the region.

Duane’s whanau inherited land in South Taranaki from their grandmother Kahurangi Wiki Pepe that they have developed into a 58ha dairy farm with 220 cows and previously had managed by an independent sharemilker. At 42 years of age and after having had a career in banking Duane decided to sign up to the course at the beginning of the year.

“Our whanau had a Land Development plan but it just needed someone to put up their hand to implement it. I’d done short courses around calving and general farm skills and was helping the sharemilker but I wasn’t learning what I needed if I wanted to take a more active role with our farm,” explains Duane.

“So I stated the course in January and then in March my whanau asked me to become the farm manager. There’s nothing like just getting stuck in and doing it and with the support of my tutors they’ve given me the confidence to carry on and get used to farming.”

Top LeftNga enjoys utilising the equipment

available at the Manaia campusTop Middle

Tutor Bruce Bailey, Taratahi Taranaki Regional Training Manager, Leanne

Richards and Nga talk about the various training programmes

Top Right & BottomTaratahi CEO Donovan Wearing and PKW

CEO Dion Tuuta put pen to paper to formalise their organisations relationship

and seal the deal with a hongi

“Our whanau have a bigger goal to be self-sufficient and sustainable, and now I have a nephew working on the farm with me. It’s a challenge but we need to be showing that we can do it for ourselves in order to get the next generation on board, to get them back to the land,” says Duane.

Looking for a similar opportunity to be able to manage a farm is fellow student Ngawharau. With his mother having lived in Taranaki most of her life, he returned from Tauranga to look for work and was undecided about his future until he saw an article about the Taratahi programmes. Having helped relief milk on friend’s farms in Tauranga he thought he’d give it a go before he went looking for a farming job. Now he is working as a farm hand for Te Rua o Te Moko Limited a Maori Land Trust near Normanby that have a 500-cow herd.

“This course has given me a foot in the door, given me the opportunity to learn about the pasture care side of things as well as management. I get to learn by doing and we always get to follow up the theory with practical application. Even when we are in class we are still surrounded by a farming environment and our tutors get us connected to the wider rural community as well, to kind of learn how to become part of the rural community and some of the social activities that occur,” says Ngawharau.

“It’s the real training on real farms that I can then apply back on my job that helps. I’m hoping to get to be a Farm Manager in the near future, maybe go to visit China and see how farming is going over there, then come home and one day have my own herd.”

It’s this kind of aspirational thinking that motivated PKW CEO Dion Tuuta to enter into the agreement with Taratahi.

“Taratahi have a reputation for providing quality training based around strategic relationships”, explains Dion.

“Their training delivery includes the Primary Industry Trades Academy which aims to achieve a closer alignment between schools, the tertiary sector and industry. Targeting Year 11-13 Maori students to be able to undertake the National Certificate in Agriculture (Level 2) would mean that they can get an insight into farming before they leave school and come away with really practical skills they can use in any occupation.”

“If we could pick up that interest and support it through providing opportunities with scholarships and the ability to work on our farms then it’s a win-win situation for all involved”.

Signing the agreement on 21 July at the Parininihi ki Waitotara offices in New Plymouth Taratahi CEO Donovan Wearing put the new relationship succinctly.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to engage with Maori to help change the face of agriculture in Taranaki.”

To meet the objectives of Parininihi ki Waitotara’s strategic plan He Whenua, He Tangata, He Oranga, to regain the active control of ancestral land and manage its own dairy properties, the Incorporation has invested in growing its own supply of dairy stock.

Through the acquisition of new farms and departure of 50-50 sharemilkers the question of how PKW Farms Limited would source additional stock required serious planning by the Incorporation.

Dairy cows are expensive animals and their purchase price can vary significantly

depending on a range of factors such as the price Fonterra pays for milk to external issues such as the Chinese demand for livestock. Relying on the livestock market to acquire cows was therefore identified as a major risk for the Incorporation.Faced with this dilemma Parininihi ki Waitotara management identified the establishment of a dedicated calf-rearing unit as a sensible solution to mitigating this emerging problem. “It’s a no-brainer”, says Ranald Gordon PKW General Manager of Land Assets.“Within Parininihi ki Waitotara’s existing livestock ownership there is a latent resource of replacement stock comprising heifer and bull calves capable of being reared to weaning and then grazed on our dairy support land. Even better – we can rear them for 70% of the purchase price.”

Parininihi ki Waitotara has developed a pilot calf rearing unit for the 2012/13

season located on Farm 13 which is managed by Robert Walden. Kathryn Kelly has been appointed as the calf rearing unit manager and will take responsibility for rearing 300 calves to supply Parininihi ki Waitotara farms of the future.

Before proposing the venture Parininihi ki Waitotara management evaluated two large calf rearing units, one owned by Fonterra Director Ian Farrelly in Otorohanga and the other being Mark Stevenson’s calf rearing unit located at Pihama in South Taranaki.

“These were very professional operations,” says Ranald. “I was confident that Parininihi ki Waitotara could match these operations and rear quality animals to supply our own farms. Subject to the pilot project proving itself we will look to establish a second larger 900 calf unit next season.”

Top Old & New calf rearing unit based at Farm 13 Bottom The new unit will rear up to 300 calves

PRODUCED BY

wb@walkerbros.co.nz | www.walkerbros.co.nz

Ranginui Parewahawaha Flavell always enjoyed studying Biology and the Sciences throughout her school years. But when her mother’s uncle, Dr Tony Ruakere suggested she consider medicine as a career Ranginui knew she had some big decisions to make.

ow in her second year as a

Junior Doctor at Rotorua

Hospital, she has embarked on

a medical career that she hopes will see

her working at Taranaki Base Hospital in

the near future.

“Initially I wasn’t confident in myself

to think of medicine as a career and

decided to spend a year in Brazil as a

Rotary International exchange student,”

explains Ranginui.

“It was a beautiful and exciting place

that also had poverty and deprivation

on a scale that shocked me. By the

time I had acquired enough Portuguese

N

I enrolled in a Technology College

Biological Science course of which there

is no equivalent here in New Zealand.

I witnessed things that horrified me in

terms of human beings treated with

no respect. That experience helped

me make up my mind to become a

medical doctor so that I could make a

difference amongst my own people and

ensure they are treated with dignity and

commitment at all times.”

With the support of her whanau she

commenced her Bachelor of Medicine

and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)

studies at University of Auckland

Medical School. The seven-year

programme created a lot of challenges

financially and Ranginui is very

appreciative of the grants she received

from Parininihi ki Waitotara Trust.

Having heard about Parininihi ki

Waitotara through her mother Erana

(nee Hond) she applied and was a

successful grant recipient in 2007 and

quite overwhelmed to have received the

Charles Bailey Scholarship in 2008.

“It’s always been a big thing in my

whanau to have an education and a

career no matter what it is. I suppose I

was kind of lucky because through my

Taranaki whanau I was kept in the loop

of what was available,” says Ranginui.

Recognising that it is important for

students to balance their workload

and their lifestyle Ranginui believes

that scholarships not only relieve the

financial stress on students and their

parents but also become a greater

motivation to achieve success.

“I think what helped me be successful

with my grant applications is that I

prepared my CV early before I started

studying and kept it up to date. Letting

your funders know how your study is

going is also a good way to keep up

your profile with trustees and attending

the shareholders meetings to show your

appreciation and talk directly about your

coursework is also important,” advises

Ranginui.

During the early years of the MBChB

students study the basic medical and

health sciences while being introduced

to professional and clinical aspects of

medical practice. From Year 4 medical

students predominantly learn in

hospital and community environments

and rotate to hospitals and practices

within the Auckland region, to Waikato

or Rotorua Hospital and to other

healthcare settings outside metropolitan

Auckland. Students also undertake at

least two rural attachments. It’s the

additional costs of travel and finding

accommodation that can add to the

financial burden students incur.

“There are so many more pressures

on us as Maori students, the weight of

expectation can also add stress. But I

encourage students to remain focussed

and not get caught up in the drama’s

outside of Medical School. Staying

grounded and utilising whanau support

is what has really helped me”, says

Ranginui.

Working at Rotorua Hospital allows

Ranginui to be close to her parents

and become more involved in whanau

events at Awahou Marae, where her

father Te Ururoa originates.

“With the high ratio of Maori patients

using the hospital I’m getting the

opportunity to learn on the job more

about myself and how I deal with the

issues that face Maori patients, how I

can engage with them to manage their

health needs. The hospital system

has tricky politics and struggles to

incorporate a Maori approach. But there

are a lot more Maori doctors coming

through the system so I feel that with

role models like Dr Lance O’Sullivan

who is a General Practitioner in

Northland utilising Te Reo Maori in his

practice, that my being bilingual adds

real benefits to my engagements with

Maori patients.”

“I feel an obligation to return to Taranaki

to give back and I have applied for a

number of positions that have been

advertised at the Taranaki Base Hospital

plus I’m looking forward to spending

more time with my whanau at Puniho

Marae,” adds Ranginui with a smile.

Though still in the early years of her

career Ranginui is pleased to know

that other Charles Bailey Scholarship

recipients like her are becoming more

actively involved in contributing to the

development of Parininihi ki Waitotara

Incorporation and the wider Maori

community of Taranaki.

“If I was to make any recommendations

to Parininihi ki Waitotara Trust it would

be that they promote the scholarships

and grants more widely as there are

many Maori students who aren’t as

fortunate as myself in having the

knowledge of their availability and

value.”

For further information on

the various grants available visit

www.pkw.co.nz/scholarships

“Letting your funders know how your study is going is also a good way to keep up your profile with trustees and attending the shareholders meetings to show your appreciation...is also important.”

Photo Supplied by Rob Tucker

During the 1800s Ngarongo Marae also known as

Ketemarae pa, was a stopping place for people as

they travelled from different parts of the country

to Parihaka. Remembered for also sheltering war

parties the pa site played an important role during

the Taranaki Land Wars and was burnt down by

British soldiers four times between 1860 and 1881.

However the resilient people of the Araukuku

hapu, which borders the boundaries between

Ngati Ruanui and Nga Ruahine-rangi Iwi, found

the resources and the wharenui Kume-mai-te-

waka was rebuilt in April 1875 making it the oldest

standing wharenui in the Taranaki region.

Sadly by 2011 the marae was in serious need of

restoration. Planning for renovations to the marae

commenced in June of that year and with support

from kaumatua and the help of co-ordinators

Jim and Sue Turahui, Marae Chair Clive Tonga-

Awhikau felt they had the right team in place to

take on the AIA Marae DIY Challenge.

“We are very proud of the history associated with

our marae, but unfortunately for a whole lot of

reasons our marae was rarely being utilised. Apart

from the occasional tangi, and using the marae for

our kapa haka roopu Tutu Ka’ika once a month,

the marae was mostly sitting idle and in disrepair,”

said Clive.

“Jim and Sue drove our fundraising activities and

through their actions in submitting an application

to Parininihi ki Waitotara we were successful in

receiving a $20,000 community grant.”

Allocated by Parininihi ki Waitotara Trust the

grant was designated towards capital costs only

and put to good use with other sponsorship

and fundraising monies, with the creation of a

waharoa at the entrance of the marae, pathways

and a covered courtyard, as well as renovations to

the wharekai and the ringawera courtyard. The

overall work is estimated to have been valued at

over $160,000.

With over 250 volunteers turning up daily over the

three day period of 8-11 March 2012 from as far

afield as Perth, Brisbane, Auckland and Wellington,

the AIA Marae DIY Team were very impressed.

Presenters Te Ori Paki (Tuwharetoa, Tuhoe, Tainui)

and Aroha Hathaway (Tuhoe), resident Landscaper

David Clayton-Greene were made to feel at home

along with their team member resident builder

Harry Anneff (Ngati Ruanui) who was proud to be

working on his marae as part of the programme.

“A lot of our whanau were meeting each other

for the first time”, said Clive. “I didn’t know Harry

before this project but I could see that he was

totally swept up in the occasion and worked

incredibly hard to help us achieve what we did”.

Even kuia Mate Carr, Emma Harneiss and Hineara

Parata were able to find time to relax and let the

younger generation carry on the good work while

they were hosted by Ngati Ruanui at the Stratford

Mountain House and filmed being pampered as

part of the television programme.

“I think the timing has been really positive for our

people”, admits Clive. “This AIA Marae DIY Project

not only brought us together as a whanau to give

our marae a facelift, but it also showed us that we

can do it, bring together the resources, the people,

the passion to get the job done. We can’t thank our

sponsors like Parininihi ki Waitotara Trust enough

for their support.”

The AIA Marae DIY Ngarongo Marae programme

went to air on Wednesday 30 May 2012.

When kaumatua Maurice Walden wrote his 120 page submission to Maori Television to convince them to bring the AIA Marae DIY Programme to Ngarongo Marae no one envisaged that whanau from as far afield as Perth would travel home to lend a hand.

The newly built Waharoa proudly displays the tekoteko gifted by Nga Ruahinerangi and is named after their warrior chief Titokowaru. The walkway across the marae atea is called Te Rangimarie to symbolise the chief’s search for peace.

Photos: Pip Guthrie

“Several years ago, we consulted hundreds of local business and community leaders in the process of creating the Taranaki Regional Economic Development Strategy 2010-2035,” says Venture Taranaki Chief Executive Stuart Trundle.

“One of the themes that kept resonating, with a diverse range of people, was the need for an increased tertiary education presence in Taranaki, at both student and research levels. The feedback from the region was that we wanted to create opportunities for our young people to access tertiary education and we wanted to make the most of ideas in a business context.”

The outcome of that strategy is a new partnership between Venture Taranaki and Massey University, which was launched at a function in New Plymouth on 13 June 2012.

“This is the first partnership of its kind in New Zealand between a Regional Development Agency and a University. It positions Taranaki well for the future and is yet another aspect of the regional strategy that we have been able to translate from community demand to ideas to action,” Stuart says.

“The partnership will help our region’s businesses work with Massey to test their ideas, with a view to taking a greater proportion to commercial success,” Stuart says.

University link to Taranaki

“Furthermore, it will establish a greater university presence in Taranaki, which will complement the learning opportunities already provided by Te Wananga o Aotearoa, WITT, and other private training establishments.”

“Opportunities to access Massey’s collective knowledge and expertise can be fully leveraged to cement Taranaki’s position as the sweet spot of the New Zealand economy, particularly as the nation’s future fortunes become increasingly centred on more innovative export-based activity,” Stuart says.

This point was reinforced in a lecture by retiring Massey University Professor Sir Mason Drury, which followed the partnership launch event. Professor Drury presented a compelling argument for a new New Zealand – one that has as its core a knowledgeable society that embraces fairness, reflects its ethnic diversity and acknowledges the demographic diversity that will come with an aging population.

A key outcome of the partnership will be a Massey University staff member permanently located in Taranaki House, working alongside Venture Taranaki, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and our colleagues at Parininihi Ki Waitotara. The role will help Venture Taranaki’s existing business development experts to engage and enable Taranaki businesses to make better use of Massey as a business tool.

“Having that person on the ground in Taranaki to manage and develop joint initiatives between the University and the region’s

businesses will open doors to what is possible with innovation.”

A number of the region’s businesses have already caught on to the benefits of working with a university through the Ministry of Science and Innovation’s research and development programmes, supporting business investment in innovation.

“The experiences and successes of these investments were a factor in the development of the partnership with Massey, and many of the participating businesses were consulted in developing the partnership.”

“The bottom line is that Taranaki businesses will have a direct link into Massey, which will foster opportunities to help turn ideas into innovations, enhance their current products and technology, and will grow the businesses and the region.”

For more information on how Venture Taranaki can help your business, call us on 06 759 5150, email us at info@venture.org.nz or visit www.taranaki.info

The seed of a partnership with one of New Zealand’s largest knowledge institutes was first sewn when Venture Taranaki was updating the region’s economic development strategy.

Massey University Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey and Venture Taranaki Chief Executive Stuart Trundle signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations.

VentureTARANAKITe Puna Umanga

will be good for growth.