The 2026 Whānau Mandate: Listening to our People
- Anita Tipene
- Mar 13
- 5 min read
Over the past year, Ngā Uri o Maikuku rāua ko Huatakaroa 1891 Trust set out to listen carefully to the voices of our people.
Through the 2025 whānau survey and kōrero shared at the AGM, we asked our descendants what matters most to them, what challenges they face, and what they want to see for the future of our hapū.
The result is a clear mandate for the years ahead. The insights gathered through this process now shape our 2026 strategic priorities and action plan, ensuring that the Trust’s work reflects the real needs and aspirations of our whānau.
Ahi Kā: The Story That Grounds Us
Our story begins with place. The descendants of Maikuku rāua ko Huatakaroa remain connected through a long history of occupation stretching from Te Awa o Waitangi to Pouērua.
As illustrated in the presentation, this landscape reflects the movement and settlement patterns of our tūpuna, linking sites such as Waitangi, Oromāhoe, and Pouērua. These connections are not just historical. They continue today through the strands of hapū and whānau who maintain relationships across these places.
This enduring relationship with the whenua is what gives meaning to the concept of ahi kā — the continuous presence of our people on their ancestral lands.
Who Participated & How
The survey revealed participation from a wide range of whānau groups.
The slide showing the strands of our whāriki highlights participation across several hapū and communities, including Te Tii Waitangi, Oromāhoe, and Ngāti Kawa.
Participants also represented different stages of life:
rangatahi
working-age whānau
parents
kaumātua
members of the diaspora
Many respondents expressed enthusiasm about becoming more involved in the future work of the Trust.
To understand the priorities of whānau today, the Trust combined several forms of engagement.
The process brought together digital participation and kanohi ki te kanohi discussion, ensuring the widest possible participation. As outlined in the engagement framework, the process included:
the 2025 whānau survey capturing structured responses
qualitative kōrero gathered during the October AGM
validation of key themes through face-to-face discussion
By combining these approaches, the Trust ensured that voices were not excluded simply because of digital barriers. The outcome was a unified community mandate built from both quantitative data and lived experience.
The Seven Pou of Whānau Needs
From this engagement process, seven core themes emerged. These represent the pillars of whānau priorities.
Together, these themes form the foundation of the Trust's future work.
Moving From Fragmentation to Unity
One of the strongest messages from whānau was the need for clearer governance and stronger unity.
The survey identified concerns about fragmented structures, unclear endorsement processes, and limited succession planning. These issues can make it difficult for whānau to understand how decisions are made or how leadership pathways work.
The aspiration, illustrated in the governance deep dive, is a more unified system where organisations connected to the hapū work together with shared purpose.
At the centre of this vision is governance grounded in tika, fairness, and transparency.
Activating the Hidden Talent Within our Whānau
Another major insight from the survey is the strength of capability already present within the community. The presentation describes this as activating the hidden whānau talent pool.
Many respondents offered skills in areas such as:
tikanga, karanga, and whakapapa knowledge
business mentoring and professional expertise
education and youth development
practical skills such as māra kai and food preparation
hauora support and community leadership
Whānau expressed a strong desire to contribute and help guide the next generation.
This willingness to participate forms the basis for initiatives such as the Trust’s Volunteer Skills Bank.
Responding to Economic Pressure and Wellbeing Challenges
Whānau also spoke openly about the pressures affecting their daily lives.
The presentation highlights several major challenges:
rising living costs and insecure housing
mental health and spiritual strain
isolation among some kaumātua
To respond to these pressures, the Trust is exploring practical initiatives such as:
housing support guides and advocacy
partnerships with hauora providers
community initiatives such as the Hokohoko Shop and community pantry
gatherings that strengthen wairua and connection
While the Trust cannot solve every challenge directly, it can play a strong role in connecting whānau with the support they need.
Confirming the Strategic Direction
One important outcome of the survey process is that it strongly validates the Trust’s existing strategic direction. As shown in the presentation, the feedback aligns closely with the Trust’s 2025–2030 Strategic Work Plan.
Key priorities such as whānau strengthening, hapū development, and cultural revitalisation were all strongly supported by respondents. Rather than changing direction, the survey confirms that the Trust is already focused on the right areas.
The 2026 Action Plan
The insights gathered through the survey now feed directly into the Trust’s 2026 action plan.
This plan includes initiatives across governance, culture, wellbeing, housing, and community connection. Key actions include:
Governance improvements
expanding the hapū register
reviewing nomination processes
providing governance training for trustees
Cultural revitalisation
recording oral histories through Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho
developing a digital cultural archive
delivering cultural wānanga
Wellbeing and housing advocacy
strengthening partnerships with Māori health providers
assessing feasibility for the Hokohoko Shop initiative
developing housing support resources
Whanaungatanga initiatives
launching the Volunteer Skills Bank
running digital literacy workshops
hosting an annual hapū gathering
Investing in the Future
To deliver these initiatives, the Trust has developed a structured investment framework for 2026. Funding will focus on four areas:
governance capability
culture and taonga
wellbeing and hauora
housing advocacy
Each investment area is designed to deliver tangible outcomes such as stronger leadership, preserved cultural knowledge, improved wellbeing support, and groundwork for future housing initiatives.
Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders
Another important focus is leadership development.
This approach ensures the Trust continues to grow while maintaining continuity across generations.
The Impact Already Achieved
Even before the action plan begins, the survey process has already created positive outcomes. The engagement process has:
strengthened connections between whānau
encouraged reflection on whakapapa and identity
reinforced trust through transparent communication
created a clearer strategic mandate for the Trust
Most importantly, it demonstrated that listening to whānau strengthens the legitimacy of the Trust’s work.
Moving Forward Together
The 2026 whānau mandate provides a clear direction for the years ahead. By grounding our decisions in the voices of our people, the Trust can move forward with confidence that its work reflects the collective aspirations of the hapū.
The pathway ahead will require continued collaboration, openness, and participation from whānau across the motu and beyond.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the many whānau who shared their whakaaro and helped shape this work.
We also acknowledge Te Tii (Waitangi) B3 Trust for their partnership and guidance, and Tupu Tonu for funding the 2025 whānau survey through the Tukua Fund.
Their support helped ensure that the voices of our people guide the work ahead.
