Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua

11/10/2026

Me he iwi mangōpare ko Ngāti Rārua me Ngāti Toarangatira. Ngāti Rārua and Ngāti Toa, resilient like the hammer-head shark.

We, (Tana Luke and Lorraine Eade) travelled to Oxford, England, arriving on Wednesday to start the deaccession and transition process of the Kahu Kiwi back to its haukainga in the Wairau. The Kahu Kiwi was given to Dr George Cleghorn in 1900 by Hapareta Rore Pukekohatu and Mere te Hiko, and for the last 113 years has been sitting at Pitt Rivers Museum.

It has been an amazing few days, the manaaki that Pitt Rivers Museum has provided for the past five days, incredible.

During the last four days both we spent time with the Conservators learning how to pack and unpack the Kahu Kiwi safely; have worked through all the paperwork to get it through customs without any hitches; have enhanced relationships with the wider Pitt Rivers Museum staff; and have been able to complete some additional research at the British Museum in London.

The signing ceremony, had a large contingent of Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Rarana, Pitt Rivers Museum Board, Dr Cleghorns descendants, Homeward Bound, and many others. We are truly thankful for that tautoko. To see our Ngāti Rārua and Ngāti Toa whānau who have resided in England for decades, ka mau te wehi!

For the English side of this process, and before we head home, so many people to thank. From Pitt Rivers Museum, Laura, Faye, Beth (aka Tour guide extraordinairre), Jo, Marina and Louise, nga mihi kia koutou. To Ben and Jenny Jeapes, Dr Cleghorns English descendants who have supported this journey throughout the process, we could not have done this without your tautoko. Ngāti Rārana - its amazing how when our extended iwi Māori whānau know of kaupapa such as the return of the Kahu Kiwi, they come with their manaaki ready, and of course our whānau of Ngāti Rārua and Ngāti Toa.

Today, we start the journey home for the powhiri at Takaupawahia Marae at 3.30 p.m on Tuesday 13th October, where the Kahu Kiwi will lie for a few hours before it is deposited on loan to Te Papa Tongarewa, until Hauhunga Marae wharenui is opened in 2027.

Ko te miro a Huiao

11/10/2026

Hoki mai te kahu kiwi o taonga - the kahu kiwi is on its way home!

08/10/2026

We are launching a new video series - Every Pathway Home - following whānau at Waikārapi as they find their own way into a warm, safe whare. Affordable Rental, Market Purchase, Shared Home Ownership, and every path in between.

The first video - Home means every path leads here - opens with the whakawātea that welcomed our first whānau home.

As one whānau member put it, "This is too good to be true - it is possible, and you can achieve it."

If you want to find your own path home, the first step is enrolling in Te Uru Ahupūtea, Ka Uruora's financial education programme. Register for Te Uru Ahupūtea: kauruora.nz/sorted-kainga-ora

08/10/2026

Waikārapi - the Ka Uruora / Hapai Housing development in Wairau continues to provide whānau with housing opportunities. In addition there are whānau who work on the developments with the various build partners - from a wide variety of trades. One of these is Barney Thomas's nephew William.

Today there was a Stakeholders meeting at Waikārapi with Stuart Smith MP for Kaikoura to receive progress updates and check in on how everything was going. Pictured from left: William Mill from Floorpride (Barney's nephew), Corey Hebberd (Rangitane o Wairau), Brett Ellison from Hapai Housing, Shane Graham, and Stuart Smith MP for Kaikoura.

Whānau can enrol with Ka Uruora Te Tauihu for programmes to prepare them for home ownership - Te Uru Ahupūtea and Te Urunga Kāinga.

At its core, Ka Uruora is about supporting our iwi whānau into healthy kainga and home ownership opportunities, as a means of achieving financial independence and improved wellbeing.

Stuart Smith MP

05/10/2026

05/10/2026

Kia ora e te whānau,
Recently we let you know about the return of a kahu kiwi gifted from Wairau Pa to Dr George Cleghorn in 1900. As we move closer the event, Lorraine has made a video sharing some of the story, and thanking all of those who played a role. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.

Mauri ora!

Watch a video with details of this remarkable story.

05/10/2026

TE TAI TONGA MEET THE CANDIDATES
YOUR VOTE MATTERS

📅 Wednesday 7 October 2026
📍 Te Āwhina Marae, Motueka

Nau mai, haere mai!

Te Āwhina Marae invites whānau and our wider hapori to join us for a Meet the Candidates evening for Te Tai Tonga.

Come and hear directly from the candidates seeking to represent Te Tai Tonga, learn about their priorities and aspirations, and ask pātai about the issues that matter to you, your whānau and our communities.

Pōwhiri: 5.00pm
Kai: 5.30pm
Meet the Candidates: 6.00–7.30pm
RSVP here: https://forms.gle/sPSNmskRJTrMNuoH6

We have 20 seats left Whānau, so please ensure you register.

Kia kōrero, kia whakarongo, kia whai wāhi.

02/10/2026

Nau mai haere mai e nga iwi katoa! Welcome everyone! Save the date!

Celebrate Te Ao Maori at Te Pataka o Wairau Maori Night Market. Free whanau entertainment, local legend award, kapa aka performances, kai karts, Maori arts and crafts, rongoa, taonga, ta moko and more!

Under the korowai of mana whenua - Ngāti Rārua, Ngati Toa Rangatira & Rangitane o Wairau.

29/09/2026

A rōpū of Rūnanga kaimahi and whānau rode the Tua Marino to Koromiko section of the Whale Trail yesterday.

It was an opportunity to share kōrero tuku iho, take in the expanse of the Para Wetland, understand the degradation that’s occurred and aspire to the possibilities of how it will look in the future. This site was an important kāinga nohoanga (campsite or go between settlement) for Ngāti Rārua when travelling between the Wairau and visiting Waitohi (Picton), where they would camp over night before continuing on the two-day journey.

A huge mihi to Martyn from Wilderness Guides Marlborough Sounds for supporting our kaupapa - we appreciate it very much.

“Whakamana te puna mauri ora o Ngāti Rārua , mō ngā hekenga ā muri ake nei.”

29/09/2026

Tēnā rā koutou e te whānau whānui o Ngāti Rārua. Nau mai, haere mai, hono mai!

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting will be held at Te Āwhina Marae, 133 Pah Street, Motueka on Saturday 14th November 2026 at 10:30 am

Election of three trustees

In accordance with the Trusts Deeds, nominations are called for the election of three trustees for a term of three years.

Persons interested in being nominated as a trustee are invited to submit their nomination form to the Board Secretary. Nominations can only be made on the official nomination form which is available during normal business hours from:

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua Wairau Office, 65 Scott Street, Blenheim;
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua Whakatū Office, 187 Bridge Street, Nelson;
Email: [email protected]; or
Phone 0800 NGA TIR (0800 642 847).

Candidates and nominators must be Adult Registered Members who are resident in Aotearoa New Zealand. Nominations may not be withdrawn once submitted.

All three (3) of the elected trustees must reside within the Ngāti Rārua Area of Interest in Te Tauihu o te Waka a Māui.

If there are more candidates than there are vacancies to be filled, an election will be held by postal and online ballot.

The relevant dates are:

Nominations Open on Thursday 24 September 2026.
Nominations Close on Thursday 8 October 2026, 4pm.
Voting Papers will be mailed to Adult Registered Members on Thursday 15 October 2026 (if a vote is to be held).
Voting Closes on Saturday 14 November 2026, 12 noon.

Dated at Blenheim, 24 September 2026

Dale Ofsoske, Returning Officer Independent Election Services Ltd for Ngāti Rārua Iwi Trust & Ngāti Rārua Settlement Trust

Phone (03) 577 8468
www.ngatirarua.iwi.nz

For further information, or to view the Deeds of Trust, please contact:

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua Wairau Office, 65 Scott Street, Blenheim;
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua Whakatū Office, 187 Bridge Street, Nelson;
Email: [email protected]; or
Phone: 0800 NGA TIR (0800 642 847)

Invitation to register

Ngāti Rārua invites anyone who has not already registered, aged 18 years or over, and with the appropriate whakapapa, to apply to be included on the Trust’s Members Register.

Registration forms can be obtained from the Rūnanga at Tokomaru House, 65 Scott Street, Blenheim, or by emailing: [email protected]