This project supported Ngāti Kearoa Ngāti Tuara to actively uphold their tikanga while restoring and protecting the waterways of the Horohoro area, which feed into the Waikato awa. Ground in their iwi environmental plan, the initiative centres on a native plant nursery that sources seeds from the local ngahere, grows indigenous species and uses them to restore riparian margins and wetlands.
As an iwi that has tributaries to the Waikato River that sits within our tupuna rohe, a part of our contribution to the kīngitanga is the restoration of those tributaries, and therefore, the restoration of the Waikato River. A key project has been working with landowners to complete riparian projects along the Whirinaki stream. Heke mai te wahine o te kīngi tuatahi, o Pōtatau Te Wherowhero, I te aho tapairu o Wāhiao. I konei ka hua mai te kōrero – ko Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao te whare tangata, te manawa uha o te Kīngitanga. The relationship of Tūhourangi Ngāti Wāhiao to
For the last eight years Ngati Tahu-Ngati Whaoa Runanga Trust have utilised funding from TARIT and WRA to manage wilding pines and other weed species in partnership with other landowners at the Waiotapu Scenic Reserve. Waiotapu Scenic Reserve is culturally significant to the Ngati Tahu-Ngati Whaoa people and includes geothermal surface features that are internationally significant. Unfortunately, Waiotapu is also where the first conifer species were planted as a trial commercial crop in the early 1900s and since then, wilding pines (and other exotic weeds) have established themselves as a threat to the ecological health of geothermal areas, because they
Since the discovery of the freshwater golden clam (Corbicula Fluminea) in May 2023 at Bob’s Landing on the Waikato River, Te Arawa River Iwi Trust has been actively involved in both on-the-ground response efforts and strategic coordination. TARIT led high-level discussion with the Minister for Biosecurity Hon. Andrew Hoggard and key industry partners to advocate for additional funding and a more coordinated, structured response. More information on Corbicula Fluminea can be found through the below links: NIWA DOC
With support from the Ministry for the Environment, TARIT worked alongside affiliates to grow capability in freshwater management. This included applying Mātauranga Māori tools, developing Māori-based indicators, and creating monitoring frameworks. Each affiliate also led a restoration project, with the collective knowledge shaping the Te Arawa Iwi Freshwater Management Guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNsj7jt2cGE
Te Arawa River Iwi Trust hosted the inaugural Tira Hoe in 2021 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the signing of the settlement. Building on this momentum, TARIT delivered a second Tira Hoe at the end of 2025, continuing to strengthen connections for iwi members through immersive experiences on the wai, Whakawhanaungatanga, and a renewed focused on kaitiakitanga of te awa o Waikato. READ THE BOOKLET https://tarit.b-cdn.net/Tira%20Hoe%2C%20TARIT%20Environmental%20Manager%20-%20Nuki%20Nicholson.mp4https://tarit.b-cdn.net/Tira%20Hoe%20participant%20interview%20-%20%20Georgia%20Hurihanganui.mp4https://tarit.b-cdn.net/Tira%20Hoe%20participant%20interview%20-%20Materoa%20Kameta%20Stevens.mp4https://tarit.b-cdn.net/Tira%20Hoe%20participant%20interview%20-%20Te%20Rina%20West.mp4https://tarit.b-cdn.net/Tira%20Hoe%20participant%20interview%20-%20Te%20Ahooterangi%20Chase%2C%20Laurence%20Moke%2C%20Hazel%20Chase.mp4
Te Arawa River Iwi Trust hosted council members from Taupō District Council including Mayor Funnell at Ohaki Marae, as part of an induction to the
Te Arawa River Iwi Trust welcomes the final Environment Court decision on Plan Change 1 (PC1), describing it as a significant milestone in the long-term