Led by Shannon and Adrienne Thompson, this wānanga is dedicated to developing rangatahi Māori to gather and prepare kai from the whenua, awa and moana.

Their mission is to bring together rangatahi from across all eight iwi of Te Tauihu to foster confidence, resilience, self-determination, cultural identity, and self-development.

They do this through connecting rangatahi back to their natural environments, learning the skills needed to navigate these, what our environment offers us and how we can practice kaitiakitanga to ensure these taonga are protected for many generations to come.

What were the major outcomes of this kaupapa? 

We have grown significantly as an organisation since this funding. We are now three years down the track and have worked with countless further whānau, tamariki, rangatahi and pakeke. We have also received funding from more organsiaitons and given so many more whānau the opportunity to learn these taonga tuku iho.

What were some of the challenges your kaupapa faced during its implementation?

We always have challenges around whānau commitment. It is a huge commitment learning these skills and if whānau aren’t fully invested we can lose them along the way. We also receive way more applications than the amount spaces we can offer. We always need further funding as this kaupapa is for those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access this lifestyle.

How did this kaupapa benefit from the Pou Herenga Tangata Award?

We are so grateful to Tapuwae Roa as they were one of the first organisations to believe in our vision. At the time we were funded, We were funding the most of the kaupapa personally. The Tapuwae Roa funding allowed us to increase our impact by offering opportunities to more whānau and build our capability and credibility as an organisation.

What are your future plans for this kaupapa?

By equipping our whānau with these capabilities, we aim to continue contributions to the resilience and well-being of families and communities. Through these efforts, we strive to strengthen community bonds, promote sustainable living practices, and nurture a deeper appreciation for our natural surroundings.