July 2025 Newsletter
He Karere nā te Heamana
Kia ora e te whānau o Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea
Mānawatia a Matariki!
It’s been really special to see our whānau and hāpori come together across Aotea to mark this time of reflection, renewal, and connection. Over the Matariki season, we’ve had some beautiful kaupapa — including the early morning service led by Te Motu o Aotea Māori Women’s Welfare League on behalf of Motairehe Marae, the release of 40 tīeke on Rakitū in partnership with DOC, and the Matariki Wānanga led by Te Kauri Wihongi and the Pou Whakapapa Steering Group.
Matariki is a time to honour those who have passed. We acknowledge the recent loss of three treasured members of our whānau me hāpori — Daphne Walker, Robert Gordon Davies, and Tim Higham — whose aroha, dedication, and contributions have left a lasting impact on our community.
Moe mai rā, e ngā rangatira.
Matariki gives us space to reflect, to reset, and to think about where we’re going together.
Toitū Ngāti Rehua!
Fletcher Beazley
Chairman – Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust Board
Te Ohonga Ake ā Matariki ki Aotea
E ngā uri ā Ngāti Rehua tēna koutou katoa
He pānui tēnei hei tuku mihi atu kia koutou i tae ā tinana mai ki te tuarua ō ngā wānanga e whā a te pōari ō Ngāti Rehua Ngāti Wai ki Aotea mō tēnei tau. Nō mātou ko te Komiti Marae ō Kawa tēnei wānanga i hakahaere ai, nō reira me mihi tuatahi atu ki te marae ō Papakura, ki te mana whenua i manaaki, i tiaki noki i a mātou roto i ngā rā e toru arā, ngā wātene Māori, ngā kai mirimiri, ngā kai mahi me ngā taonga hokohoko ā Kahuri.
Tuarua, me mihi kia tātou anō, hakoa e mea ana te kōrero "kāhore te kumara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka," tino waimarie ana tātou, nā te nui ō ngā tangata pukenga i waenganui i tō tātou iwi te take me kī, ko ngā ringa wera, ko ngā kai ako, ko wai atu, ko wai atu me kī, nā koutou tō tātou wānanga whai hua ai, whai oranga ai. Nō reira e rau rangatira mā huri noa, Mauri Ora!
Acknowledging all those who attended the second Trust Board wānanga for this year. We worked in partnership with the Kawa Marae Committee, and so I would firstly like to thank Papakura Marae for hosting us for 3 days, the wardens, the massage therapists, the marae workers, and Kahuri Designs.
Secondly, to acknowledge us, even though it is said "the kumara doesn't boast of its sweetness," it's hard not to share how blessed we are to have so many skilled people in our Iwi. From the Kawa Marae caterers to the facilitators and everyone else who contributed to the wānanga, you all made it an awesome experience. So to our many chiefs, Mauri Ora!
Te Kauri Wihongi
For those who expressed interest in attending these wānanga earlier this year, we'll be in touch with an update soon.
Tīeke Release on Rakitū
Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea and the Department of Conservation (Aotea) have released 40 tīeke (saddleback birds) on Rakitū Island!
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this kaupapa possible - our whanaunga from Ngātiwai and Patuharakeke, the incredible capture team on Māui-tikitiki-a-Taranga (Hen and Chicken Islands), our organising kaimahi, pilot, skipper, and all those who’ve laid the foundations over many years.
Together, our shared goal with DOC Aotea is bold and beautiful: 5 years, 5 taonga species, 5 translocations. Mauri ora!
Tai Tū Moana - Caulerpa Response
Tai Tū Moana is exploring ways to manage exotic Caulerpa, and your input is key. Your feedback will shape our next steps and ensure local voices are heard.
If you’ve already completed our first survey, thank you!
If not — or if your views have changed — please take a moment to fill out this survey
TVNZ Breakfast features Tū Mai Taonga in a special live interview
Anchor Jenny-May Clarkson spoke with our Project Lead, Mākere Jenner, about the kaupapa to remove feral cats from Aotea and restore the unique biodiversity of our motu — all through an iwi-led approach that reconnects people with place and brings healing to both. He taonga te whenua, he taonga te tangata.
Ngā mihi to Predator Free 2050, the Department of Conservation, Foundation North, and Auckland Council.
Nau mai ki te tīma - Welcome to the team!
Kia ora tātou, I’m Sean Stephens
With an emerging background in ecological restoration combined with extensive experience in construction, I’m passionate about blending environmental knowledge with practical skills to nurture and restore the whenua of our tūpuna. I’m excited to contribute as the Project Lead for the new Ngahere Native Plant Nursery in Akapoua, where we aim to bring life back to our native ecosystems and support the long-term health of our environment. Being part of this kaupapa allows me to work alongside our community, connecting with the land and strengthening our relationship with te taiao.
Kia ora!
You might have known me as Shelly Davies but I took on our tupuna Raihi's nickname, Miraka, as my legal name a couple of years ago during my journey with te reo Māori.
I'm so excited to be a set of extra hands to take a bit of workload off Operations Manager Celestina, and it feels beautiful to be catching up with all our whānau. I'm based in Rotorua and juggling whānau, mahi, and opening Aotearoa's first total immersion reo Māori cafe, Rumaki.
Kia ora whānau, I'm Charlene (Char) Ngawaka,
As a proud Māori mother and an indigenous wahine, I embody a deep commitment to the wellbeing of our people. For over a year, I’ve had the privilege of being part of the Kirimana team, supporting Pou Whakapapa and Pou Whai Rawa. I am honoured to step into the role of Mātauranga Manager, where I’ll work closely with whānau, hapū, and partners to nurture, protect, and carry our mātauranga into the future. Together, we can uphold our cultural foundations while ensuring that our tamariki are grounded in both ancestral wisdom and contemporary understanding. Arohanui, Char
Tēnā koe, I’m Hillarey McGregor
My mother was Whetu Marama McGregor who was born in Motairehe, Aotea te Motu (Great Barrier Island). I have been involved in Trusts and Committees on Aotea for many years, and am grateful to now be employed by the Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust Board as part of the finance team. I am married to Duane Ngawaka aka Walker, the son of Eileen and Jim Ngawaka. We have 4 children, all schooled on Aotea, and who have now blessed us with grandchildren. Although we currently reside in Auckland, our home and hearts remain with the island and our haukainga whanau.
Kia ora e te whānau, ko Sonya Williams tōku ingoa,
I live on Aotea, where I was born and raised—this is my tūrangawaewae. My background is in business administration and conservation, and I currently work with Tū Mai Taonga. I’m excited to be stepping into the role of Funding Coordinator for the Trust Board, where I look forward to building on this important mahi. I’m passionate about protecting Aotea’s natural and historic heritage, and I’m committed to uplifting this kaupapa in my new role. In my spare time, you’ll find me out in the garden or on the golf course.
Kia ora, ko Heleena Tamihana ahau,
I have a background in administration and governance, having worked for Te Kōhanga Reo and served as chairperson of our local kura during the eight years I lived in Whangaruru with my husband and 6 tamariki. In March 2024, I joined the Trust as an administrator for Pou Oranga and Pou Whānau and soon discovered a passion for communications and engagement. I’m now proud to step into the role of Communications Manager, where I can support whānau connection and share the positive outcomes of our collective mahi.
📢📢📣 Join Our Team: 4 Community Centered Roles at the Heart of Change
Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust is expanding our kaimahi team and we’re calling on passionate, committed whānau to join us in shaping the future of Aotea.
🌿 2 Facilitation & Engagement Coordinators
15 hrs per week | 12-month contract
We’re looking for two dynamic, community-minded individuals who live on Aotea to help lead engagement for our Toitū Aotea Community-Led Development programme. This job-share role is perfect for those who thrive on kanohi ki te kanohi connection, know the haukāinga, and want to help uplift the voices of our whānau across Northern Aotea.
🧭 Senior Administrator
Up to 30 hrs per week | 12-month contract
Our kaupapa is growing, and we need a confident, organised, mana whenua Aotea-based administrator to support delivery across a range of iwi-led projects with a focus on the whenua and conservation. This role is central to keeping our mahi moving forward, our reports sharp, and our whānau supported.
📢 Researcher to Support Climate-Focused Study
Short-term contract
We are seeking a researcher working at Master's level or above to support climate-focused wānanga and a baseline vulnerability study in the North of Aotea. The study will inform in our climate resilience planning, ensuring the protection and regeneration of whenua and wai, and supporting the long-term wellbeing of our people and ecosystems.
📩 For full role descriptions and to apply, email: kiaora@ngatirehua.iwi.nz
🗓️ Applications close: 8 August
Ngāti Rehua–Ngātiwai ki Aotea Trust – Reclaiming our Rangatiratanga, Advancing our Mana Motuhake.
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