Restoring the mana in Tāhuna - charitable trust growing Māori support structures in Otago

Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust is a kaupapa Māori organisation based in the heart of a previously isolated community in Tāhuna – Queenstown.

Established in 2020, Mana Tāhuna was born after several decades' worth of hope, want, and a need for a kaupapa Māori organisation in the Tāhuna area. Driven to creation by the Covid-19 pandemic, this seed has grown into the Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust korowai of support that is alive and well today.

“As Māori, we share the fundamental need for connection to our whānau, our whenua, and our whakapapa,” says Michael Rewi, Tumu Whakarae (CEO) of Mana Tāhuna (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Ngāti Kahungunu).

“While the Whakatipu and Wānaka region saw permanent settlements of Tāhuna Māori, shockingly, our tangata whenua lacked a central hub or support structure that they could turn to for help and guidance, such as a marae.”

“Created by Māori, for Māori, Mana Tāhuna has recognised the importance of tautoko and connection for our community, and aims to fill this gap,” he continues.

Committed to improving the well-being of whānau and the health of their taiao (environment), Mana Tāhuna works to build a self-sustaining partnership between the community and whenua that uplifts whānau and gives them the support needed to thrive.

Engaging with 250 whānau per month across their services, 28 passionate Kaimahi are committed to ensuring social, cultural, and environmental impacts are everlasting.

The Mana Tāhuna Kaupapa

As a kaupapa Māori organisation, the core values that Mana Tāhuna have created are at the forefront of everything that the organisation does. Their kaupapa fall under five key pou; environmental restoration, rangatahi guidance, re-employment and retraining, kaupapa Māori, and health and social services.

Mana Tāhuna has completed extensive mahi covering across this pou, including the restoration of 10,000 hectares of freshwater catchment in the Whakatipu River, planting over 88,000 plants throughout the Whakatipu Basin, supporting addiction rehabilitation, creating over 75 jobs and apprenticeships in Tāhuna, helping over 600 whānau celebrate te ao Māori, and providing kai support to over 560 whānau in need.

Broadly, these ventures tend to involve partnerships with organisations such as the Department of Conservation, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Ministry of Social Development, Wakatipu High School, and TreeSpace, who share a passion for building an environment where the Tāhuna community move forward as a collective.    

Providing Better Futures for Tāhuna Rangatahi

A priority for Mana Tāhuna is to offer programmes and youth services that provide better futures for their rangatahi. Striving to increase Māori and Pasifika representation in future industries, the charitable trust assists 25 rangatahi weekly in areas such as education, culture, and career development.

“We strongly believe that our rangatahi are our taonga and are committed to ensuring that they have equal access to opportunities in all areas of life,” says Rewi. “Breaking barriers to education and creating an environment that fosters their growth and ability to succeed is a large focus of our Rangatahi Pou.”

Te Hoeroa is the name of their Youth Hub, meaning ‘steering paddle’. Based around the whakatauki: “ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi,” Mana Tāhuna act as the ruha (net) that uses Te Hoeroa to steer rangatahi down their chosen path.

Providing an environment where rangatahi between year 8-13 feel safe to learn and explore their Māori culture, Te Hoeroa can be used as a space for completing schoolwork, playing games, immersing themselves in Te Ao Māori, or simply hanging out.

Another unique programme offered through Mana Tāhuna is Mau Rākau, where rangatahi can put a Māori martial art into practice and learn the values and protocols of a Māori warrior. Allowing them to gain skills and get fit in a fun and inclusive environment that actively works to teach and preserve a rich side of Māori culture.

“Our rangatahi are our future, and we are dedicated to ensuring that we create an environment that nurtures their growth and the ability to flourish in their mahi, culture and wellbeing,” says Rewi.

Learn more about Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust here: https://www.manatahuna.co.nz/