FROM FOUNDATION TO FUTURE
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Raukūmara Pae Maunga – Te Haurua Tuatahi o 2026
"Still Climbing – The First Half of 2026"
E te whānau, kua eke tātou ki te haurua o te tau, ā, he wā pai tēnei ki te whakatā poto, ki te titiro whakamuri ki ngā mahi kua oti, me te anga whakamua ki ngā mahi kei mua i te aroaro.
Standing Together Through the Storm
The severe weather event that swept across Ngāti Porou communities earlier this year left many whānau, homes, marae, and roads across the East Cape significantly impacted.
As communities faced flooding, slips, and storm damage, Raukūmara Pae Maunga kaimahi were quick to respond, working alongside their communities, and local agencies to support whānau when they needed it most.
From clearing flooded homes and removing debris to delivering essential equipment, cleaning supplies, and kai, our teams were on the ground helping communities begin the recovery process. Marae once again became hubs of support, providing shelter, connection, and practical assistance for those affected.
While the damage was considerable, so too was the strength of our people in true Ngāti Porou spirit.
and so, it continues...
Raukūmara Pae Maunga mobilised and activated the Venison Koha programme - alongside Te Whānau-a-Maruhaeremuri - Wairūrū with a powerful collective of whānau, landowners, heli operators, local businesses and Te Papa Atawhai.
The first helicopter lifted off on January 29. Beneath it stretched the ngahere over Tawaroa and vast farmland in Waikura.
Over just two days, we achieved something remarkable:
78 deer
5 cows
3.65 tonnes of meat processed and packed
At Tawaroa Station and beyond, the crews worked hard. Knives flashed, laughter and grit filled the air as whānau, young and old- stepped in.
Eastcoast Hunters - worked around the clock from Friday through to Sunday morning to process the meat in time to deliver.
From that 3.65 tonnes came:
1.5 tonnes of dog tucker (because no member of the whānau is forgotten)
2,400 sausages (600kg)
2,400 patties (200kg)
350kg of mince
500kg of steak (500 bags)
Then came distribution - organised swiftly.
At Potaka/Waikura, 49 whānau received:
50 bags of steak
200 packs of sausages
150 patties
100 packs of mince
At Hinemaurea Marae, support expanded to 90 whānau:
260 packs of steak
300 packs of sausages
200 packs of mince
725 patties
Each marae became a hub of manaaki. Boxes became meals. Meals became relief.
One last flight carried a tonne of meat to
Te Araroa.
The Deeper Lesson
Beneath the success sits a harder truth.
The same ngahere that fed the people also contributed to the devastation. Floodwaters carried debris, trees, and paru from the hills - reminding everyone that the health of the forest and the safety of the people are bound together.
A degraded forest can become a weapon.
A healthy one can be a shield.
Above all, it is proof that in times of crisis, Raukūmara Pae Maunga does not wait, it moves.
Takamore Infrastructure and Site Development
Takamore continues to be our most frequented outdoor community engagement sites in Ngāti Porou, providing a consistent and valued space for whānau to connect with te taiao. This quarter has seen targeted improvements including track gravelling, installation of signage, and broader site infrastructure upgrades, all of which have strengthened accessibility, improved safety, and enhanced the overall experience for those engaging with these spaces.
Guided Takamore IMS Site Visits
Ongoing guided visits have increased transparency of operations and provided our community with direct insight into predator control work.
Swim 4 the ocean - Jono Ridler swims into the capital
Raukūmara Pae Maunga welcomed Jono Ridler and his team to the shores of Te Whānau a Apanui and Ngāti Porou, contributing both practical support and deep local knowledge and manaakitanga.
Raukūmara ki Mataatua Kapa Haka Regionals
Having Raukūmara presence at the Mātaatua Kapa Haka Regionals was both intentional and significant. With Te Whānau a Apanui hosting this prestigious kaupapa, it was important that our work stood alongside the cultural excellence being showcased on the ātea.
Our stall created a space to connect with our own whānau but more importantly all of the people visiting from afar bringing taiao restoration into a setting that celebrates identity, language, and whakapapa. In a space where people gather to uplift te ao Māori, it was essential that the wellbeing of our taiao was also visible and part of that kōrero. The presence of Raukūmara reinforced that culture and taiao are not separate - they are deeply intertwined.
Standing there as the sole environmental voice highlighted the need for this work to continue growing - to become a natural and expected part of all kaupapa.
Raukūmara Week 2026
Raukūmara Week was, at its heart, about people and place. The deep, living relationship between community and whenua from the mountains to the sea.
Te Papa Tipu o Raukūmara (Native Nursery Opening) marked a significant investment in long-term restoration capability, supporting local propagation of native species, strengthening climate resilience and moving ever closer to evolving our Ruatoria site into a nature based scientific hub of learning.
Te Kura o Te Whānau a Apanui coastal clean-up
The coastal clean-up was not simply an exercise in removing rubbish; it was an expression of how we care for our place. It created a space for our tauira to step into responsibility, to understand their role as uri of Raukūmara, and to contribute to something far greater than themselves.
From Tau 1 through to Tau 13, tauira showed unity, commitment, and pride - working side by side along the roadside and coastline.
Yet within this experience sat a difficult truth. As our young people collected discarded beer bottles, fishing gear, and household waste, they were confronted with the visible impact of choices made by others. These were not the remnants of their actions, but of those older than them, a stark reminder of the disconnect that can exist between what we teach and what we practise.
This moment calls for honest reflection. If we ask our tamariki to value and protect te taiao, then we must embody those same values in our everyday actions.
Our tauira rose to the occasion with integrity and care.
The challenge now rests with us - this generation, as a community, to ensure that the example we set honours both the taiao and the future we are working so hard to protect.
"When the tamariki see our Raukūmara Pae Maunga truck they run to us excited to get out there and check their traps." says Lisa beach - Community Engagement Advisor.
It's trap check time with the trapping in schools programme, our kaimahi have been consistently showing up for tauira across Ngāti Porou. The programme is a huge success, teaching and delivering pest control methods safely in schools.
Tauira gain direct experience in what it means to be a trapper, and they love it! Their enthusiasm stems not from the excitement of the catch, but from the meaningful task of caring for their whenua, and they are well aware of this.
Aerial Culling at the Height of Operations
We would like to acknowledge and congratulate Caleb on achieving Level 4-H (hunter) in aerial culling.
Level 4-H represents the pinnacle of operational excellence in aerial hunting. It recognises not only technical skill and precision in the air, but also leadership, decision-making under pressure, and the ability to work towards mentoring and growing our people within the system. Those who reach this level are trusted to uphold the highest safety standards while guiding the next generation of aerial cullers.
Bringing the Pae Maunga to Tāmaki
Recently, Raukūmara Pae Maunga travelled once again to Tāmaki Makaurau to engage with our whānau who live outside of Ngāti Porou and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. This visit marked our third journey to Tāmaki, continuing our commitment to bringing the kōrero and presence of our pae maunga directly to our people, wherever they may reside.
These engagements are a powerful reminder that connection to our whenua, maunga, and kaupapa is not defined by geography. Our Tāmaki whānau continue to demonstrate a deep commitment to the kaupapa. In many cases, they are among our most engaged supporters and advocates, ensuring the kaupapa continues to thrive beyond the boundaries of our rohe.
Hosted by our whanaunga - Vicky Demant and Mate Webb, who have been steadfast pou of support throughout these engagements, we pay our gratitude to them.
The next phase of our restoration journey
“The ngahere is responding, our people are trained, we have momentum: the Raukūmara is forgotten no more. Transitioning from a multi-year project to an enduring charitable entity will help us to fulfil our purpose of breathing life into this very special forest.”
Raukūmara Pae Maunga is at an exciting and pivotal stage of our journey. Following five years of intensive mahi, the ngahere is responding, our people are trained, we have momentum: the Raukūmara is forgotten no more. As detailed in Pūrongo Whakaora / Restoration Report 2020 - 2025, our robust and innovative programme is reversing decades of degradation to the Raukūmara. However
there is still much healing to be done.
That’s why we are transitioning from a multi-year project to an enduring entity, we are now a registered charity (able to accept donations), which will help us fulfil our purpose of breathing life into this very special forest.
For more about this important milestone and our five years of impact, check out the Pūrongo Whakaora 2020 - 2025.
