Rotoiti 15 Ahu Whenua Trust

01/10/2026

🌿 ROTOITI 15 | SEPTEMBER UPDATE 🌿

He marama pukumahi anō mō Rotoiti 15! September has been another busy month with plenty happening across the Trust and a number of kaupapa underway for our owners, uri and wider whānau.

Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to 👇🏽

🎓 Associate Directors Programme
We were proud to announce the four successful participants selected for our Rotoiti 15 Associate Directors Programme. Over the next two years, they will gain practical governance, strategic and commercial experience across both the Rotoiti 15 Trust Board and Rotoiti 15 Investments LP Board.

🌿 Mahinga Kai
Registrations opened for our upcoming Mahi Ngā Kai kaupapa and the response from our uri was overwhelming! Registrations have now closed due to the level of interest received. We’re looking forward to bringing everyone together for this kaupapa and continuing to strengthen our connection to our whenua, mātauranga and marae.

🏡 Papakainga Hui
We held our Papakainga Hui at Te Waiiti Marae, providing whānau with an opportunity to hear more about the proposed development and the Trust’s aspirations for creating pathways for our people to reconnect and live back on the whenua.

👵🏽👴🏽 Koeke Grants
Our team continued working with our koeke to update and renew their information ahead of this year’s Koeke Grant payments. If you or your whānau have changed your address, bank account or contact details, please make sure these are kept up to date with us.

💻 Stay Connected
We encourage all our owners and uri to stay connected with us. Visit our website to update your details, register as a beneficiary, check available grants and keep up to date with Trust kaupapa and opportunities.
www.rotoiti15.com

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa for continuing to engage and participate in the kaupapa of Rotoiti 15.

Kia hihiri te ōhanga, te oranga me te pukumahi i runga i te ngākau ngātahi.
Working together to protect and grow the well-being of our people, environment and culture.

Kia hihiri te ōhanga, te oranga me te pukumahi i runga i te ngākau ngātahi. Working together to protect and grow the well-being of our people, environment and culture.

20/09/2026

🌿 MAHINGA KAI REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED 🌿

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa!

Due to the overwhelming level of interest and support for our Mahinga Kai kaupapa, registrations are now closed.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has put their hand up to be involved, contribute ā mahi, ā kai, and support our 13 associated Marae. The response has been amazing and reflects the strength and commitment of our whānau to this kaupapa. 🙌🏽

📧 If you have registered, please keep an eye on your inbox. A pānui will be sent by email confirming your registration and providing further information about the kaupapa.

🏡 REMINDER: PAPAKAINGA DEVELOPMENT HUI

We also want to remind whānau about our upcoming Papakainga Development Hui:

📅 Thursday 24 September
⏰ 5:30pm – 7:30pm
📍 Te Waiiti Marae

Tukua mai kia piri, tukua mai kia tata. 🤎

This is an opportunity for whānau to come together, hear about the Pāpākainga Development kaupapa, share your whakaaro and help shape what the future could look like for our people returning home and living on our whenua.

To register your attendance, complete the link below:

Register for our community gathering at Waiiti Marae

17/09/2026

🌿 He kai kei aku ringa – REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN! 🌿

Mahi kai is about coming together, sharing our knowledge, working collectively and strengthening our marae through mahinga tahi, hari kai and whanaungatanga. 🤝🏽

WHEN: 4PM Friday 30th - Saturday 31st October
WHERE: Te Waiiti Marae
KAI WHAKAHAERE: Peter Peeti, Pumahu Yates, Peter-Ray Wharerau & Tame Malcolm

If you’re someone who:
✨ Is active in mahinga kai
✨ Wants to support our marae
✨ Enjoys working alongside whānau
✨ Is keen to learn: hunting safety, breaking down a beast, ika, tuna, kai prep for Kaupapa marae
We want you!

Ideally, we’re looking for those who are already contributing — or are keen to contribute — ā mahi, ā kai to our 13 associated Marae.
Te Waiiti Marae
Pounamunui Marae
Taurua Marae
Te Punawhakareia Marae
Waikohatu Marae
Ruaihona Marae
Hinemihi Marae
Ngapumanawa Marae
Tapuaekura Marae
Waiatuhi Marae
Mataikotare Marae
Te Takinga Marae
Paruaharanui Marae

🌱 Registrations are now open!
Come along, connect with whānau, share your whakaaro and be part of something that strengthens our marae and our people.

Tukua mai kia piri, tukua mai kia tata. ❤️
📍 More details to come
📝 Register your interest: https://2026mahingakai.paperform.co

15 SPACES AVAILABLE!
Mahinga Kai | Mahi tahi | Hari kai

11/09/2026

🌿 RŌTOITI 15 TRUST | ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PROGRAMME 🌿

We are pleased to announce the four successful participants selected for the Rotoiti 15 Trust Associate Directors Programme.

Following an Expression of Interest process, 33 people registered to attend the programme information evening, with 11 applications received from owners of Rotoiti 15 Trust.
The calibre of applicants was exceptionally high, and the Trustees were impressed by the experience, skills and commitment demonstrated throughout the selection process.
We sincerely thank everyone who expressed an interest and submitted an application.

Over the two-year programme, the successful participants will develop their governance, strategic and commercial capability through practical experience with both the Rotoiti 15 Trust Board and the Rotoiti 15 Investments Limited Partnership Board.
During the first 12 months, two participants will be placed with each Board. They will then exchange placements for the second 12 months, ensuring all four participants gain experience in both Trust and commercial governance.

Kia hihiri te ōhanga, te oranga me te pukumahi i runga i te ngākau ngātahi
Working together to protect and grow the well-being of our people, environment and culture

🌱 MEET OUR FOUR ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS

Haukapuanui Vercoe
Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Hinekura

Haukapuanui Vercoe is Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Hinekura with whakapapa connections to Rotoiti 15 Trust through his kuia and koroua. A raukura of Kura Kaupapa Māori, civil engineer and PhD researcher, his work focuses on marae resilience, infrastructure, natural hazards and climate change. Haukapuanui is passionate about real estate and commercial opportunities as pathways to create intergenerational benefit for uri, whānau, hapū and marae. Through the Associate Directors Programme, Haukapuanui hopes to learn from experienced Trustees and Directors and deepen his governance experience.

Kerri Anne Hancock (nee Rogers)
Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Tarāwhai

Kerri Anne served as Rotoiti 15 Tauwharenga from 2019 to 2023 and is excited to return to the R15 whānau to partake in the Rotoiti 15 Trust Associate Directors Programme.
Kerri Anne’s whakapapa to our whenua is through her kuia Te Ririu I and her background is in Treaty settlement negotiations and environmental kaupapa.
In her day job, Kerri Anne is the Aho (Practice Manager) at Te Kāhui Raraunga. She currently serves as a Trustee for Te Kotahitanga o Ngāti Whakaue Assets Trust, Te Kohea LP, and the Lake Okataina Scenic Reserve Board. In her free time Kerri Anne Chairs Te Arawa Swimming club and follows her tamariki Maraea (12) Justin (10) and Te Waere (8) around the motu as they try their hand at every sporting endeavour they can think of.

April Pohio
Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Te Rangiunuora

Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko Ngāti Pikiao te iwi, ko Punawhakareia te marae. Ko April Pohio tōku ingoa.
I whakapapa to Rotoiti 15 through my dad, Manu Pohio, son of Richard (Dick) and Erena Pohio, and grandson of Whetu Pohio and Te Riri Tawhai Clayton (Nellie).
I’m keen to build on my connection to our whenua and get a real, hands on understanding of how the Trust operates, while growing my governance experience. I bring practical thinking, people experience and Agri tech know how — all of which I hope will support the Trust’s future planning and help create strong outcomes for our whānau and whenua.

Liz Knuth
Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Rongomai

He uri ahau nō Ngāti Pikiao, nō Ngāti Rongomai hoki.
Ko Te Hiukura, ko Tapuaekura ōku marae.
Through the Associate Directors Programme, I hope to strengthen my governance capability and contribute my finance and commercial experience. I want to develop the skills to make sound, intergenerational decisions that protect and grow our assets while creating opportunities and enduring value for our whānau.

We look forward to supporting Haukapuanui, Kerri Anne, April and Liz as they grow their governance capability and contribute to the future of Rotoiti 15 Trust and our people. 🌿

Congratulations and nau mai ki te kaupapa! 🎉

03/09/2026

🌿 TUKUA MAI KIA PIRI, TUKUA MAI KIA TATA 🌿

🏡 ROTOITI 15 PAPAKĀINGA DEVELOPMENT
He whenua, he kāinga, he whānau, he whakatupuranga.

Rotoiti 15 Trust is progressing the Rotoiti 15 Papakāinga Development — an initiative focused on supporting our whānau to reconnect with and return home, while ensuring our whenua remains in collective ownership for generations to come. Delivered through a staged, practical, and financially responsible framework, the project aims to establish an exemplar papakāinga grounded in best-practice design, strong community connections, and long-term sustainability. At its heart, this kaupapa strives to provide secure, affordable housing solutions tailored to the diverse needs of our whānau through flexible, mixed-tenure options.

We are currently in the inception phase, and it is important that we hear directly from our whānau, our local marae, community hubs and wider Rotoiti community.
Your voice, whakaaro and aspirations will help shape the future direction of this kaupapa. ❤️

📍 PHASE 1 — ROTOITI HĀPORI HUI
📅 Thursday 24 September
⏰ 5:30pm – 7:30pm
📍 Waiiti Marae
Come along and share your whakaaro about:
🏡 Housing needs for our whānau
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The needs of our whānau and future generations
🏘️ What a successful Papakāinga could look like for Rotoiti
💚 Opportunities and aspirations for our community
👉 To register your attendance for catering purposes please complete the link below:
https://haporihui.paperform.co

📋 PHASE 2 — SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Our online Survey / Expression of Interest (EOI) is also available for Rotoiti 15 shareholders and whānau to share their housing needs, aspirations and interest in the development.
👉 Complete the survey here:
https://r15papakainga.paperform.co

Your participation is important.

Nau mai, haere mai ki te kōrero, ki te whakarongo, ki te whai wāhi ki tēnei kaupapa.

Rotoiti 15 Ahu Whenua Trust is investigating the development of a Papakāinga at Tāwhakarere Bay to provide future housing opportunities for current and future generations of Rotoiti 15 whānau.

01/09/2026

Rotoiti 15 Trust – Monthly Update

This month’s Rotoiti 15 Trust Monthly Update will look a little different, as we have some exciting upcoming kaupapa and important announcements to share with you all.

🌿 Mahi Ngā Kai Wānanga – An exciting opportunity focused on strengthening our marae, whānau and communities.
🏡 Pāpakainga Development – An update on our ongoing mahi and future plans to support whānau housing and development on our whenua.
🌟 Introducing Our Successful Future Associate Director's – We are pleased to introduce our successful Associate Directors and share more about their journey and the opportunity ahead.

There is lots happening across the Trust, and we look forward to sharing these kaupapa with you all over the next few days and keeping our whānau informed and connected.

03/08/2026

🌿 Rotoiti 15 Trust – Monthly Update | July 2026 🌿

Kia ora e te iwi,

Here's a look back at what has been happening across the Trust during July.

✨ We're Going Paperless
Rotoiti 15 Trust is making the move to paperless communications. This initiative will help reduce printing and postage costs, improve efficiency, and lessen our environmental impact.
To ensure you continue receiving important Trust updates, newsletters, AGM notices, grant information, and other communications, please make sure we have your current:
📧 Email address
📱 Phone number
🏡 Postal address
If your details have changed, or you haven't registered your email address yet, now is the perfect time to update your information through our online registration portal.

🤝 Supporting Our Hāpori
During the past month, Rotoiti 15 Trust was pleased to provide financial support towards several important kaupapa that brought our people together, including:
• ✨ Ngāti Pikiao Hautapu Ceremony
• 🌟 Ngāti Pikiao Matariki Kaumātua Dinner
These events celebrate our culture, strengthen whanaungatanga, and provide opportunities for our whānau and kaumātua to come together. We are proud to support initiatives that uphold our traditions and benefit our people.

🌿 Associate Directors Programme Update
The response to our Associate Directors Programme has been outstanding. We were pleased to welcome 34 uri to our Information Evening, with 11 applications received from an exceptional group of highly qualified candidates.
The successful applicants will be announced soon.
A heartfelt mihi to everyone who took the time to attend the information evening and submit an application. Your willingness to contribute your skills, knowledge, and passion is a testament to the strength of our people.
The future of Rotoiti 15 Trust is looking bright, with the next generation of leadership ready to help guide and grow our Trust.

🎯 Koeke Grants
Our team has been assisting whānau with Koeke Grant renewals and updating contact details to ensure eligible kaumātua continue receiving their annual grant. If your contact details have changed, please get in touch.

📢 Coming Up
• Taiao/Hikoi Whenua Wānanga 30-31 October 2026
• Fi****ms Licence Wānanga 15 August – FULL
• Papakāinga Engagement Wānanga

Keep an eye on our page for funding opportunities, events, and important Trust notices.

Together, we're building a stronger future for our whenua, our whānau, and future generations.

01/07/2026

Tēnā koutou e te whānau,

As we reflect on the past month, we are pleased to share some of the activities and achievements taking place across the Trust.

- Celebrating Trustee Annette Sykes
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Trustee Annette Sykes on receiving the prestigious 2026 Me Uru Kahikatea Award. This recognition acknowledges her outstanding leadership, dedication, and lifelong contribution to Māori advancement, advocacy, and community development. We are proud to have Annette serving our whānau and Trust.

- Successful Associate Directors Programme Information Evening
Thank you to everyone who attended our Associate Directors Programme Information Evening. It was encouraging to see strong interest from our uri who are looking to develop their governance knowledge, leadership skills, and understanding of trust and board responsibilities. We look forward to progressing applications and supporting the next generation of leaders within our communities.
Applications are now open! Please email us for more info – [email protected]

- Launch of the 2026–2027 Ngāti Pikiao Maramataka
Last month also saw the successful launch of the 2026–2027 Ngāti Pikiao Maramataka. Developed to support whānau in reconnecting with traditional Māori knowledge systems and the natural rhythms of our environment, the maramataka is now available for download and printing. We acknowledge all those who contributed their knowledge, expertise, and creativity to bring this valuable resource to life for our people.

- Mahingā Kai ki Mangatū
Led by our General Manager, Apenti, who shared his knowledge and whenua of Mangatū with ūri of the Trust, together shared an opportunity of reconnecting with the whenua, gathering kai from the ngahere, learning alongside one another, and practicing kaitiakitanga in action.

- Upcoming Event – Te Umukōhukōhu Whetū
We warmly invite whānau to attend Te Umukōhukōhu Whetū – Ngāti Parua on Saturday, 11 July. This special event provides an opportunity to come together in celebration of Matariki, strengthen whanaungatanga, and acknowledge the knowledge and traditions passed down through our tūpuna. We encourage whānau to participate and support this important kaupapa.

17/06/2026

✨ Ngāti Pikiao Maramataka 2026-2027✨

As we move into Matariki and celebrate the Māori New Year, we are pleased to share the 2026–2027 Ngāti Pikiao Maramataka.

This maramataka has been developed with the support of our whanaunga, Jade Kameta from Ngā Pātaka Kōrero o Te Arawa, and the creative expertise of Janelle Marsters from Ngareta Creative.

The 2026–2027 Ngāti Pikiao Maramataka is now available to download and print from our website via the link below.

We acknowledge and thank Jade, Janelle, and all those who have made contributions in bringing this resource to our whānau and community.

https://www.rotoiti15.com/event/ngati-pikiao-maramataka-2026-2027

08/02/2026

Kia Ora e te Iwi

This weekend is the Tarawera Ultra-Trail 14-15 Feb

We will have an Aid Stationed on our whenua as we host 1,400 runners in the T102 (100km) and the TMiler (163km). The Trust has been working in partnership with the Tarawera Ultra-Trail organisers to experience parts of our Whenua.

Good luck to our Uri that are participating!

https://tarawera.utmb.world