Members:

Kia hiwa ra, kia hiwa ra
Nau mai, haere mai ki tenei hui

Komiti Māori hui are held on marae across the region to enhance participation and strengthen hapū/iwi engagement. We strongly encourage tangata whenua and the general public to attend and provide feedback in this forum.

We are pleased to invite you to our next Komiti Māori hui to be held:

Wāhi: Te Takinga Marae, 402 State Highway 33, Mourea, Rotorua
Te rā: Raatu, 25 o Hui Tanguru - Tuesday, 25 February
Whakaeke: 9.30 i te ata

Ko Matawhauruate Maunga
Ko Rotoiti-i-kitea-ai-e-Ihenga i Ariki ai a Kahu te Moana
Ko Ōhau te Awa
Ko Te Arawa te Waka
Ko Ngāti Pikiao te Iwi
Ko Ngāti Te Tākinga, ko Ngāti Hineora Ngā Hapū
Ko Te Tākinga te Whare Tupuna
Ko Hineora te Wharekai
Ko Hohowai te Marae

Te Takinga Marae is located in the settlement of Mourea on the shores of Lake Rotoiti. Its principal Hapū is Ngāti Te Takinga of Ngāti Pikiao.

At this meeting we will hear from tangata whenua on some important kaupapa

Rārangi take mo te Komiti - Agenda

An electronic copy of the meeting agenda will be available through the Komiti Māori web page from 18 February 2020. 

Kia hoki mai te Kaituna ki Maketu - Returning the Kaituna to Maketu

On Wednesday 12 February, tangata whenua, Maketū schoolchildren, and other locals gathered together with contracting staff, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council representatives, to celebrate the return of freshwater flows from the Kaituna River into Te Awa o Ngātoroirangi/Maketu Estuary.

A huge mihi to everyone who joined us, and to all those that have been involved in the project along the way. Together we've delivered this $16.6m project on budget, and five months ahead of schedule.

The aim of the project has been to restore the mauri and health of the estuary by returning freshwater flows from the Kaituna River into Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi/Maketu Estuary.

See more about the project details at www.boprc.govt.nz/kaitunarediversion

He Toka Tū Moana scholarship

He Toka Tu Moana Scholarship is now open for applications for 2020. Our application close date is 17 April 2020 with notification to successful recipients being 22 May.

This scholarship is worth $2,500.00 and will be awarded to four recipients. The recipients will formally be invited to our Komiti Māori meeting in June, which is expected to be held in the Ōkurei constituency and there they will be presented with a certificate and formally acknowledged on the mahi they are undertaking on behalf of our Taiao.

The purpose of this scholarship is to assist tauira by providing financial support for education, activities, research and other projects that aligns and focuses on Te Taiao, whether it be raising environmental awareness and understanding and/or focusing on environmental education and katiakitanga.          

Sentinel A Nuku

The Department of Conservation (DOC) are looking for 20 enthusiastic, energetic, creative and organised tauira to join the Sentinel A Nuku programme.

The Sentinel A Nuku programme, run by the Department of Conservation, prepares our next generation of environment and conservation managers and technical experts. It reflects the best of both worlds: te ao Pākehā and te ao Māori

The programme is an employment opportunity for two years and provides workplace training, education and personal development in the management of te taiao in a tikanga Māori context.

DOC is looking for 20 tauira to join the programme in the Central North Island Region (Hawkes Bay, Turangi, Taupo, Rotorua, Whakatane, Murupara, Taranaki, Wairoa, Gisborne or Tauranga).

Check out the Department of Conservation website for more information

Tarawera River Festival

Te rā: 22nd Feb 2020
Wāhi: Te Awa o te Atua Lagoon, Matata

Nau mai, haramai!

Kaupapa - Programme:
5 am Tarawera Falls placing of Mauri stones (conditions allowing). To meet at bottom by the maunga. 3 Iwi: Ngati awa, Ngati Rangitihi and Tuwharetoa ki Kawerau.

6:30 am Braemar Springs - Spiritual waka hoe on Tarawera River to the Matata Cut -10.8km. Kayaks and 2 x w12 for kaumatua and whaea.

7:45 am Pohiri Ngati Rangitihi Marae for kaumatua/pakeke and dignitaries.
Breakfast and formalities.

9:45 am Proceed to Te Awa o te Atua Lagoon, Matata

10am Pohiri to open concert. 
Kapahaka Groups
Bands - main act Reggae Band and Auckland based Funk band
Individual and local artists
Food stalls and spot prizes.

Kaumatua and dignitaries tent available on the day. Hot beverages, water and light refreshments served all day.

Transport available for kaumatua and whaea leaving Matata shops departing at 4:30am to Tarawera Falls. Please be there just before 4:30am or contact Mereana Hona 022 1978 4691 for more information.

Regional Tertiary Commuter Services

A free regional bus service for tertiary students was launched earlier this month, across the Bay of Plenty Region.

The service is a joint venture between the University of Waikato, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, with each organisation contributing funds to make the service available, along with a grant from the New Zealand Transport Association (NZTA).

It is currently a one year trial running from 3 February to 20 December 2020 with daily runs from:

Whakatāne to Tauranga- return
Rotorua to Tauranga- return
Katikati to Tauranga- return includes Te Puna
Murupara to Rotorua- return
Tauranga to Rotorua- return

The cost is FREE for Tertiary students with an appropriate Student ID. For all other fare information, please see the individual timetables on the Baybus website.

Fares are cash only except for the Katikati to Tauranga service. Commuters are able to purchase a 10 trip ticket from the bus drivers.

Ngā mihi nui ki a kōutou