In November 2024, the Rapua project hosted the fourth wānanga with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Hauiti (TRONH). This wānanga marked and concluded almost a year of wānanga and dedication to developing a bespoke leadership, governance, and decision-making model.
This wānanga provided an opportunity for TRONH to make final refinements. It focused on three key features of the model: consensus decision-making, leadership and tikanga, leadership structure, and Rūnanga representation within Te Whakaruruhau o Hauiti Group (Group Hauiti appointments).
The Rūnanga were engaged in highly passionate discussions, marked by vigorous debates, tensions, and agreements. The high level of engagement from our Whirikōkō (Rūnanga collective) highlighting the project's importance to the Rūnanga.
In March 2025, at TRONH Hui Rautaki (Quarterly Strategy Hui), the Rapua project presented the refined Te Remu Huia Pilot Handbook to TRONH. Our presentation included three milestone moments: the presentation of the Te Remu Huia Pilot Handbook, the launch of Ngāti Hauiti Leadership Timeline, and the toki poutangata.
Te Remu Huia Pilot Handbook marks one year of wānanga and development of Te Remu Huia with TRONH. Te Remu Huia model is inspired by the twelve tail feathers of the manu huia, a Ngāti Hauiti kaitiaki, that resides ki tua o te ārai. This handbook outlines twelve features of the report, organised under three main headings: Rau Tumu (Principles & Values), Rau Tangata (People), and Rau Huarahi (Processes). From March 2025 to February 2026, TRONH will trial the Pilot Handbook.
Ngāti Hauiti Leadership Timeline was compiled by Utiku Potaka and published by Whakauae Research Services. This publication documents six broad movements in Ngāti Hauiti history:
Each period highlights significant events, both within Ngāti Hauiti and the wider rohe, as well as key nationwide events that have greatly impacted hapū and iwi leadership and societal structures. This publication fulfils our objective of recording important historical moments in Ngāti Hauiti leadership and governance.
Manu Taki (Rūnanga hapū delegates) provided feedback on the timeline, particularly reflecting on the photographs of tūpuna, especially kuia and koroua, featured in the more recent periods. They shared their personal memories and connections with those who have passed.
A toki poutangata was presented to the Rūnanga to symbolise the collective decision-making process, which is a key feature of Te Remu Huia. Many decades ago, the toki poutangata was carved by Ngāti Ruaanga Manu Taki, Thomas Curtis, for the then convenor (and current Ngāi Te Ngahoa Manu Taki), Neville Lomax. Neville has since gifted the toki to the iwi and agreed for it to be used for Te Remu Huia.
This Hui Rautaki marked the Rūnanga’s first steps toward collectively embedding Te Remu Huia into their tikanga. Manu Arataki (convenor), Heather Gifford, guided the consensus decision-making process, which is informed by Pāeke kawa. The process provides each Manu Taki the time to present their kōrero and argument. Heather presented the toki to the Whirikōkō (the Rūnanga collective), signifying that a decision was to be made. The mauri of the toki was passed around the room for each Manu Taki to voice their support or opposition. Consensus was reached with full support, and the concluding words were recited, “Whiti, whano! Haramai te toki! Haumi ē! Hui ē! Tāiki ē!”.
From February 2025 to February 2026, TRONH will trial the Pilot Handbook. During this period, TRONH may provide feedback and recommendations for any changes or edits.
The Rapua team is preparing numerous reports, academic writing, publications, and reporting for our funder HRC NZ, including:
2023: conceptualisation of a draft model
2024: development of the model with TRONH
2025: piloting the model
