25/05/2026
PĀNUI PĀPĀHO | MEDIA RELEASE
26 HARATUA 2026 | 26 MAY 2026
Te Pouahi o Te Taitokerau partners with Kaipara Uri to house whānau
Te Pouahi o Te Taitokerau Trust is delighted to announce its recent partnerships with Kaipara Uri – Pōuto Tōpū A Trust and Arapaoa 1 Māori Reservation Trust – to deliver warm, dry homes for their whānau.
“We are pleased to partner with Pōuto Tōpū A Trust and Arapaoa 1 Māori Reservation Trust. The enduring commitment of both Trusts to their whānau has been evident and aligns with our vision – ‘with our own hands we will build durable homes and communities’,” says the Kaihautū of Te Pouahi o Te Taitokerau Trust, Mr Kris MacDonald.
Pōuto Tōpū A Trust is an Ahu Whenua Trust with land holdings situated on the north head of the Kaipara Moana, Pōuto Peninsula. This Trust is the original whānau owners of the whenua, first offered the then-called Tōpū Block for development back in 1933, whereby sheep, beef and dairy farming were administered by the then Department of Māori Affairs.
Since taking back control and administration of the whenua in 1989, Pōuto Tōpū A Trust has worked hard to build its economic base to ensure their whānau can be self-sufficient, given the isolated location of the Pōuto Peninsula.
Arapaoa 1 Māori Reservation Trust is located in the middle of the Kaipara Moana catchment, approximately a kilometre from Waihaua Marae. The Arapaoa 1 Block was once the site of the Arapaoa Māori School. The site was then set aside as a reservation for the Uri of Arapaoa and their descendants.
“With our support, Pōuto Tōpū A Trust will build six new homes, and Arapaoa 1 Māori Reservation Trust will build eight new homes. This continues our strategy of supporting our whānau to successfully build their own homes – ko ō tātou kāinga noho, he mea hanga,” says Mr MacDoanld.
“Te Pouahi o Te Taitokerau Trust is proud to support the continued development of the Pōuto and Arapaoa communities within Te Taitokerau. With recent investment in infrastructure, roading, and the Pōuto Wharf upgrade, we want to ensure that as employment opportunities grow, whānau have warm, dry homes to come home to.”
“One of our key priorities is to ensure our investments have an enduring impact for our whānau. We are focused on improving living conditions, reducing overcrowding, and enhancing community wellbeing.”
Construction will commence this month, with a delivery timeframe set for completion by the end of 2026. Pōuto Tōpū A Trust and Arapaoa 1 Māori Reservation Trust have chosen Advance Build as their build supplier.
ENDS
Media contact
Mikayla Thompson
021 053 0742