Te Tāwharau o te Whakatōhea

Te Tāwharau o te Whakatōhea Whakatōhea trace our descent from the Nukutere and Mātaatua waka. Our ancestral lines are traced back to two ancestors - Tutāmure and Muriwai.

https://linktr.ee/whakatohea_iwi The Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board was established in 1952 to administer funds then held by the Māori Trustee as compensation for confiscated land. The Board is governed by the Māori Trust Boards Act 1955. Since this time the Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board has grown its asset base significantly to include the operation of 2 dairy farms, 2 kiwifruit orchards, property investments, fisheries assets, aquaculture ventures, a private training establishment and health and social services. The Board is one of Ōpōtiki's largest employers and employs 65 staff across all of its business activities.

Ngā mihi nui, e te iwi! 🧡A huge mihi to everyone who stepped forward, submitted a nomination, or encouraged a whānau mem...
16/09/2026

Ngā mihi nui, e te iwi! 🧡

A huge mihi to everyone who stepped forward, submitted a nomination, or encouraged a whānau member to stand in the 2026 Trustee Elections.

Putting yourself forward to serve our iwi takes courage, commitment and a willingness to contribute to something bigger than ourselves.

So, what happens next?

We are now processing and verifying all nominations received. Once this process is complete, we will announce the official candidates for the 2026 Trustee Elections.

Keep an eye on our page for the next update as we move into the next stage of the election process.

Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa.

Tū Ake Whakatōhea! 🧡

Kawea ana e ngā ia o rātou mā kua whetūrangitia.Tiaho mai rā hei māramatanga.Tū, ārahi, koke whakamua me tō wairua hūmār...
14/09/2026

Kawea ana e ngā ia o rātou mā kua whetūrangitia.

Tiaho mai rā hei māramatanga.

Tū, ārahi, koke whakamua me tō wairua hūmārie.

Tū Ake Whakatōhea.

Nā ēnei kupu i ārahi i a Matengaro Farrar rāua ko Emma Macdonald ki te waihanga i tēnei taonga. He mea whakaaweawe te Rei Niho i tēnei tohu, hei whakaatu i te rangatiratanga, te whakahīhī, me te mana anō hoki.

He whakamaharatanga tēnei e anga whakamua ana tātou nā te mahi nui a te hunga i mua i a tātou, ā, e kawe tonu ana, e pīkau tonu ana i te haepapa mō te hunga e heke tonu mai.

Ehara tēnei i te mahi toi noa iho.

E whakaatu ana i a tātou kātoa, tuakiri mai, whakapapa mai.

Tū Ake Whakatōhea.

"Carried by the currents of those who came before us.

Guided by the stars ahead.

Stand, lead, and move forward with both pride and humility.

Tū Ake Whakatōhea."

These kupu became the foundation of this design.

Inspired by the Rei Niho, Matengaro and Emma created a taonga that reflects leadership, pride and mana.

A reminder that we move forward because of those who came before us, while carrying responsibility for those who will follow.

This is more than artwork

It is a reflection of who we are.

Tū Ake Whakatōhea.

13/09/2026

🚨Today is the day, e te iwi!🚨

Nominations for the 2026 Te Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea Trustee Elections close today at 12 noon sharp!

If you've been thinking about standing to represent your hapū or our wider iwi, this is your final opportunity to put your nomination forward.

Or perhaps you know a whānau member with the heart, whakaaro, and commitment to serve our people; encourage them to submit their completed nomination before the deadline. 🧡

Serving as a Trustee is an opportunity to contribute to the decisions and direction that will help shape Whakatōhea for generations to come.

📌 Nominations close TODAY at 12 noon.

Please note: Late nominations cannot be accepted.

Karawhiua!

Tū Ake Whakatōhea! 🧡

12/09/2026

Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori.

Ka kawe te reo i ngā pūmahara mō ngā mātua tīpuna, te tuakiritanga o tō tātou iwi, o ō tātou whanau maha, waihoki e mau tonu nei tātou i ngā wawata o ngā reanga e heke tonu mai nā.

E whakamaharatia ana Te Wiki o te Reo Māori e tātou, ngā wero i tau ki runga i ngā mātua tīpuna, ngā whawhai mō te orangatonutanga o te reo. Nā rātou, te rangatiratanga i whakatinana, i tohe hoki kia whai wāhi te reo Māori ki ō tātou kāinga, ki ngā kura, ki ngā wāhi mahi, ki roto i te hapori hoki, kia koke whakamua te reo.

Ko tō tātou reo. Ko tō tātou mana. Ko tō tātou rangatiratanga.

Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori.

Our reo carries the memories of our tīpuna, the identity of our people and the aspirations we hold for those still to come.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori reminds us that the survival and growth of our reo did not happen by chance. Generations advanced it by standing with courage, exercising rangatiratanga, and insisting that te reo Māori had a rightful place in our homes, kura, workplaces, and communities.

Ko tō tātou reo. Ko tō tātou mana. Ko tō tātou rangatiratanga.

E whā ngā rā e toe ana! Only 3 days left until nominations close!If you're planning to stand in the 2026 Trustee Electio...
11/09/2026

E whā ngā rā e toe ana! Only 3 days left until nominations close!

If you're planning to stand in the 2026 Trustee Elections, now is the time to submit your nomination, e te iwi. 🧡

We strongly encourage all potential candidates to submit their nomination forms before the final day. Submitting early gives our team time to check that everything is complete and let you know if anything needs updating before nominations close.

Once the deadline has passed, no further nominations or changes can be accepted.

If you've been thinking about stepping forward to serve Whakatōhea, don't leave your nomination until the final moments.

📌 Nominations close: Monday, 14 September 2026, 12 pm

Tū Ake Whakatōhea. 🧡

Tūtaki ki ngā ringatoi.Nā mātou te honore ki te mahi tahi ki ēnei ringatoi tokorua,He honore ki a mātou te mahi tahi me ...
11/09/2026

Tūtaki ki ngā ringatoi.

Nā mātou te honore ki te mahi tahi ki ēnei ringatoi tokorua,

He honore ki a mātou te mahi tahi me ētahi ringatoi i ahu mai ā rāua mahi auaha i te rangahau, i te hononga, ka mutu ki te aronga matua.

Matengaro Farrar

( Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui)

rāua ko

Emma Macdonald

( Ngāi Pākehā, Tangata Tiriti).

Nā te mahi ngātahi, kua honoa e Matengaro rāua ko Emma ngā pukenga hoahoa whakairoiro, toi whakaahua, toi tā, me te toi ataata, hei waihanga i tētahi taonga e tino kitea ai te wairua motuhake o Whakatōhea.

Ko tā rāua mahi he whakamahara mai, ka tareka e te hoahoa te whakaatu i te whakapapa.

E kore ngā mihi e mutu ki a kōrua tahi.

Tū Ake Whakatōhe

Meet the Artists
Behind every meaningful design are the people who brought it to life.

We're honoured to work alongside two artists whose creativity is grounded in research, connection and purpose.

Matengaro Farrar
(Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Maniapoto, Tainui)

and

Emma Macdonald
(Pākehā, Tangata Tiriti).

Together, Matengaro and Emma have woven together graphic design, illustration, printmaking and visual storytelling to create a taonga that is uniquely Whakatōhea.

Their work reminds us that design can carry whakapapa.

Ngā mihi kōrua.

Tū Ake Whakatōhea.

09/09/2026

Ngā moemoeā me ngā wawata 🧡✨

Rangatahi representation is an important part of the future of Whakatōhea.

Our rangatahi bring fresh perspectives, new whakaaro and aspirations for what Whakatōhea can become.

They are not only the leaders of tomorrow; they are contributing, influencing and leading today.

Are you a rangatahi aged 18–35 ready to step forward and serve? Or do you know someone with the passion, whakaaro and commitment to represent our people?

Your perspective belongs at the table. Your aspirations can help shape what comes next.

Tū Ake Whakatōhea! 🧡

Ko tōku reo, ko tōku rangatiratangaIa kupu ka kōrerotia e whakakaha ana i te hononga ki waenga i a tātou me te pātaihia,...
08/09/2026

Ko tōku reo, ko tōku rangatiratanga

Ia kupu ka kōrerotia e whakakaha ana i te hononga ki waenga i a tātou me te pātaihia, nō hea koe, nā wai hoki koe? Ka mutu e whakakaha ana tātou i te anamata o tō tātou Whakatōheatanga.

Ka tipu te rangatiratanga i te mōhio ki a tātou anō. Ka tipu i te wā e kōrero ana koe i te reo, e tuku ana i ngā pūrākau ki te kātoa, e waihanga ana i tētahi wāhi haumaru e kōrerotia ai ngā uri maha o Te Whakatōhea,a, me te māia hoki o te tuku.

E tata mai ana Te Wiki O Te Reo Maori, He karere tēnei ki a koutou kātoa kia tīmata i tēnei wā tonu.

Kōrerohia tētahi kupu.

Akona tētahi kōrero.

Tohaina tētahi pūrākau.
Ākina tētahi ki te tīmata i tō rātou haerenga reo i tēnei rā.

Ko tō tātou mana. Ko tō tātou reo. Ko tō tātou rangatiratanga

Our reo is an act of rangatiratanga.

Every kupu spoken strengthens the connection between who we are, where we come from and the future we are shaping together.

Rangatiratanga begins with knowing ourselves. It grows when we speak our reo, share our stories and create spaces where the voices of Whakatōhea are heard with confidence and pride.

As Te Wiki o te Reo Māori approaches, we encourage every uri to begin where they are.

Speak one kupu.

Learn one kōrero.

Share one story.

Encourage one more person to give our reo a go.

Ko tō tātou reo. Ko tō tātou mana. Ko tō tātou rangatiratanga.

I rēhita koe i raro i te pūnaha tawhito?Were you registered under our old system, or unsure if your details are up to da...
07/09/2026

I rēhita koe i raro i te pūnaha tawhito?

Were you registered under our old system, or unsure if your details are up to date?

Whakatōhea has moved to MāoriMe, giving you greater control over your own information and making it easier to stay connected with your iwi.

Creating your MāoriMe account helps ensure you're ready to take part in the upcoming Trustee Elections and receive important iwi updates.

How it works:

🧡 Jump online and create your MāoriMe account using the link below.

🧡 Our admin team will connect your account with your existing Whakatōhea registration.

🧡 Once connected, you can manage and update your own details whenever you need to.

Even if you've been registered with Whakatōhea for years, it's worth checking that your information is up to date.

🔗 If you need to check your registration details please get in touch:

Ring the office: (+64) 07 315 6150

Email: [email protected]

Stay connected. Stay informed. Tū Ake Whakatōhea. 🧡

He aha tēnei mea te “Taonga”.He nui ake te taonga i te whakakai noa iho.He mea kawe māramatanga.He mea hono i ō tātou wh...
06/09/2026

He aha tēnei mea te “Taonga”.

He nui ake te taonga i te whakakai noa iho.

He mea kawe māramatanga.

He mea hono i ō tātou whakapapa.

He mea mahara ki a rātou mā kua wheturangitia.

He mea whakapakari i ngā haepapa e pīkaungia e tātou mā te āpōpō.

Kua tīkina ake te kaihoahoa pūweru i ētahi whakaaro mai i te “Rei Niho". He tohu i te kaitiakitanga, mana me te kaha.

He take, he kōrero tō ia rāranga.

He kōrero tō ia āhuatanga.
Nā te mea, ngā mea e kawea ana e tātou he mea maharatia anō hoki. ko wai tātou?

Tū ake whakatōhea.

What is Taonga?
A taonga is more than something we wear.

It carries meaning.

It connects us to our whakapapa.

It reminds us of the people who came before us.

It strengthens the responsibility we carry for those who come after us.

The design you'll soon see is inspired by the Rei Niho, a taonga that represents strength, leadership and mana.

Every line has purpose.

Every element tells a story.

Because the things we carry should remind us of who we are.

Tū Ake Whakatōhea!

Address

122 St Johns Street
Opotiki
3122

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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