Whenua

Toi Whenua is a team that sits within Whai Māia. The role of Toi Whenua o Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei – Heritage and Resource Management, Mahi Toi and Te Reo Unit – is to support the Trust, Whai Māia / Whai Rawa and Reserves Boards, and Treaty of Waitangi negotiation team, on heritage and resource management issues.

We develop and implement strategies, structures and systems, projects, and programmes and services on behalf of the Board that promote the mana whenua and rangatiratanga of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in Tamaki, with a focus on kaitiakitanga (safeguarding and enhancing people, the environment and its resources, Ngāti Whātuatanga and our taonga and heritage places).

We actively maintain and build relationships with key people, community groups, departments and organisations, from private developers to infrastructure companies, to Local Boards to the Auckland Council and its CCOs, to enhance our role as heritage / environmental / mana whenua advocates. Our unit is often the first point of contact for these organisations.