Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Iwi Development Trust

16/06/2026

📢Mōrena e te whānau, there's a Trust Deed Review hui on this Saturday at the Wairarapa Events Centre, 10am start. We'll be talking about housing kaupapa, too. 🏠RSVP to [email protected]

E te whānau,

It's not too late to register your attendance for our Trust Deed Review hui this Saturday, 20 June 2026 at the Wairarapa Events Centre, starting at 10am. In addition to the Trust Deed Review kaupapa, we also want to talk to our whānau about housing as part of Housing Strategy work we are doing.

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to: [email protected]

We've put together an Information Booklet about our Trust Deed Review📖

It gives an overview of:
🔎what the Trust Deed does
🔎what it needs to do
🔎what we could consider
to ensure it reflects and supports our hapū and whānau aspirations into the future.

View or download the Trust Deed Review Hui Information Booklet:https://www.kkwtnr.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/NKKW_TRUST-DEED-REVIEW_HUI-BOOKLET_A4_16PP_MAY26_FINAL_WEB.pdf

15/06/2026

Last nights opening of the Wairarapa Moana Design Exhibition, showcasing work developed by students from Victoria University of Wellington.

The students have produced design concepts for the Wairarapa Moana reserves to provoke thinking about the potential of the whenua and the opportunities that may exist for its future. It was encouraging to see the depth of whakaaro reflected throughout the projects and the way students had absorbed and incorporated the kōrero shared by Rawiri Smith into their work.

The exhibition highlights how thoughtful design can contribute to conversations about the cultural, environmental and recreational values of Wairarapa Moana, while encouraging people to think differently about what is possible for this significant landscape.

If you have the opportunity, we encourage whānau to visit the exhibition and engage with the ideas and conversations it has inspired.

📅 Today: 12.00pm – 7.00pm
📅 Tomorrow: 9.00am – 5.30pm

Ngā mihi nui to the students, staff and contributors who have supported this kaupapa.

15/06/2026

Opening night at 6pm tonight (Monday 15th June) 😍

Come along and view an exhibition showcasing design concepts developed by students from Victoria University of Wellington for the Wairarapa Moana reserves.

Venue: Kiwi Hall, 62 Bell Street Featherston

11/06/2026

📢 Attention Wairarapa whānau!

NEW APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITY MILL

JNL is looking for a new Maintenance Engineer apprentice at their Wairarapa Mill site. This is a full-time role, where you will get on the job experience working onsite as well as attending block courses. You will be fully supported by the JNL Engineering Team in studying towards a NZ Trade Certificate in Mechanical Engineering Level 4.

If you have the following in your toolbox then JNL would like to hear from you:
✅Passion for the industry
✅ A positive attitude with ambition, determination, and a willingness to learn
✅ Observant and mechanically minded
✅ Strong commitment as well as the energy and the focus to study to gain the relevant qualification
✅Reasonable strength and fitness
✅Confidence with IT, computers, technology
✅ Good organisational skills
✅ Good work habits/time management
✅ Good literacy and numeracy skills
✅ Strong eye for detail

It is recommended that people enrolling in a programme leading to this qualification will hold NCEA Level 2 (ideally in Maths, Science, Technology, English) or equivalent.

JNL will support the successful candidate through the Trade qualification by offering a comprehensive training package. In the first instance, preference will be given to candidates who have experience with the industry, through work experience, pre-trade courses, or other avenues. Applicants must be committed to 4 years study while they work.

In-line with JNL's stringent health and safety standards, the successful applicant will be required to undertake pre-employment drug and medical tests, as well as a criminal record check.

📩If you wish to apply for this position, please send your expression of interest to Kristy Hansen at: [email protected]

For more information or a copy of the position description, please call into the JNL office.

Applications close Friday, 3 July 2026

Please share with any whānau member you think may be a good fit 🙏

11/06/2026

Nau mai, haere mai

10/06/2026

Ka tanuku te tihi o Rangitūmau.
E kapo ki ngā whetū, e kapo ki te marama, e kapo ki te ata o taku raukura ka riro nei.
Kua hinga he tōtara o te wao nui a Tāne.

E te whānau, ka nui te pōuri i te rironga atu o Stephen (Tipene) Kawana, he rangatira hūmārie, he tangata whakaiti, ā, ko ia hoki te tohunga whakairo o Pūkaha. He pou ia e aroha nuitia ana e tōna ake whānau, otirā e tātau katoa

We acknowledge with sadness the passing of Stephen (Tipene) Kawana, a humble and respected leader and master carver at Pūkaha.

Send a message to learn more

04/06/2026

Ka rarapa te rangi,
Ka rarapa te whenua,
Ka rarapa te whatumanawa ki ngā mate tārūrū o te wā ka riro nei.
Ko roimata, ko hūpē tonu e kahu ana 🌿

Together with Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki Nui-a-Rua Settlement Trust we wish to acknowledge the passing of Ahorangi Whatarangi Winiata who dedicated his life to the advancement of te iwi Māori.

Kei te ahorua o Wairarapa, Kahungunu mai, Rangitāne mai ka eke tahi tātou ki Ngātokowaru ā te Hanarei 🌿

For those that wish to pay their respects to Ahorangi Whatarangi and the Winiata whānau, transport will be arranged from Wairarapa to arrive Sunday around lunch, looking to whakaeke at 1pm.

Please contact the below as soon as possible if you would like to reserve a seat.

Jenishavorne “JJ” Waipuka
📞027 381 8579
✉️ [email protected]

Raumahora Waata
📞027 569 3698
✉️[email protected]

Photo credit: Te Ao Māori News

01/06/2026

Tini whetū ki te rangi,
Ko koe rā ki te whenua ✨

Kei te kaitāwharau i te iwi,
te kahu korako,
te rangatira mākohanui,
e Te Kawana, tū mai rā! ✨

Wairarapa Iwi Development would like to acknowledge Matua Mike Kawana who has been awarded a MNZM, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, in recognition of his unwavering dedication to his iwi and hapori. Matua Mike is a pillar of support to the community and humbly serves both iwi of Wairarapa💜

Matua Mike Kāwana is well known as a rangatira, a tohunga and a kaumātua. Today, he can add “Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit” to the list.🏅

“We are delighted with the acknowledgement of Matua Mike in the King’s Birthday Honours for 2026” says Sonya Rīmeme, Chair of Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā. He has been a pillar for our iwi and our community over many, many years and this is an appropriate recognition of his service.🌟👑🎉

“Alongside his contribution to our iwi and our marae, Matua Mike has a longstanding association with the New Zealand Police and the Department of Corrections, and is a supporter of our local Māori Wardens ” says Ms Rīmeme. “We also want to acknowledge his partner Erana and their whānau for sharing their husband, dada and granddad with us”.❤️

Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā is proud of Matua Mike and we wish him well with his next endeavours 🌿✨

E mōhiotia whānuitia ana a Matua Mike Kāwana hei rangatira, hei tohunga, hei kaumātua hoki. Nō tēnei rā, ka utaina atu te “Mema o te Tohu Huānga o Aotearoa (MNZM) ki tērā rārangi. 🏅

“Kei te harikoa katoa mātau ki tēnei hōnore kua utaina atu ki a Matua Mike i te Rārangi Hōnore a te Kīngi mō 2026” hei tā Sonya Rīmeme, Heawahine o Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā. He pou ia nō te iwi, nō te hapori hoki i roto i ngā tau, he tika tonu te whakamihi ki āna mahi. 🌟👑🎉

“Hei apiti atu ki āna mahi mō te iwi me tō mātau marae, kua roa a Matua Mike e tautoko ana i Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa me Te Ara Poutama, me ngā Wātene Māori anō hoki” hei tā Ms Rīmene. “Me mihi hoki ki tōna hoa rangatira, ki a Erana, me te whānau hoki mō rātau i āwhina i te hoa tāne, i te papa me te koro”. ❤️

E whakahī ana a Rangitāne Tū Mai Rā ki a Matua Mike, ka awhero kia piki te kaha ki roto i āna mahi e haere ake nei.🌿✨

01/06/2026

Tītiro mai e te whānau. Get in quick and register for your free appointment.