Te Tauihu iwi launch collaborative trust for Covid recovery

Thursday, 25 February 2021

Dr Lorraine Eade, centre-right, with Te Pūtahitanga chairman Tā Mark Solomon at the signing of a funding agreement for Te Pātaka. Eade is the new kaiwhakahaere of a new trust called Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu.

The ongoing collaborative iwi response to Covid-19 in Te Tauihu is continuing, with the formation of Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu Charitable Trust to help whānau to thrive post Covid.

Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu was formed by all eight iwi of Te Tauihu, and is co-chaired by Jaqui Ngawaka and Shane Graham.

Ngawaka said the formation of the charitable trust was to cement the partnerships formed during the Covid response.

“This has all come off the back of last year, the lockdown and the response that the eight iwi worked on together,” she said.

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The eight iwi of Te Tauihu worked together during and after the lockdown to make sure whānau were looked after with programmes like Te Pātaka. The new trust makes the collaboration more permanent.

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The eight Te Tauihu iwi collectively mandated an iwi-led response plan, working alongside Civil Defence and crown organisations, to minimise risk to iwi and Māori across the top of the South Island.

Te Pātaka programme is a combined Te Tauihu iwi project providing food for whānau across the top of the south.

She said the response had galvanised iwi across the top of the south to work on shared issues that, though they became acute during the lockdown, predated Covid.

“Covid, like with everybody, was a big kick for us to rethink priorities,” she said.

“Issues like homelessness for instance, we were able to provide shelter during lockdown, which made us think, why can’t we keep doing that when times are good?”

She said in light of that, Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu was formed to take a long-term view.

“Our strategic plan, Kia Kotahi te Hoe, is a collaborative effort firmly focussed on creating the best conditions for our whānau to thrive,” she said.

“Iwi all have unique priorities and concerns as well, but this is about what we can do together.

“While we might be faster alone, Te Tauihu iwi know that we can go further together, so we want to ensure that iwi leadership and a unified Māori voice becomes ingrained across our communities and throughout the region of Te Tauihu.”

She said the charitable trust, working with crown partners, would enable iwi to support recovery and make long-term gains for whānau.

The charitable trust has taken a “major step along the recovery path”, appointing Dr Lorraine Eade as a new kaiwhakahaere (operations manager). She will take on the role in March.

Eade has already been involved in the collaborative iwi Covid response in Te Tauihu in her role first helping lead the Civil Defence Covid welfare response in Wairau, then helping to establish and chairing Te Pātaka Incorporated.

Eade said in a statement that Te Kotahi o Te Tauihu extended and solidified that work.

“During the initial Covid-19 response we saw that a wide range of better solutions were possible. We are continuing that work and embedding it into our business as usual,” she said.

“In practical terms, it means we are collaborating as iwi, hapū and marae, along with central and local government, to feed and house whānau in need, and ensure there are opportunities for training and meaningful work. This is holistic wellness co-ordination across many organisations and delivered to where it is most needed.”

The eight tangata whenua iwi in Te Tauihu are Ngāti Tama ki Te Tauihu, Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-a-Māui, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, and Rangitāne o Wairau.