About us
Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Rohe
Te Paatu ki Kauhanga define their area of interest to include the areas of Kohumaru, Te Taunoke, Waimutu and Pūheke blocks including Rangiputa Station, Kaiaka, Maunga Taniwha, Aputerewa, Paranui, Ōruru Valley and Taipā.
Te Paatu ki Kauhanga acknowledge all hapū and iwi overlapping interests to whenua and takutai moana.
Our Trustees
The registered trustees of Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Trust Board are Ngaire Tauhara-White (Chairperson), Ngawaiata Evans (Vice-Chairman), Selwyn Reihana, Susan Peters, Tania Abrams, Sophie Tauhara, Merita Wi Kaitaia and Christian Seumanu.
Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Trust Board is established to receive, manage, hold, and administer the trust assets on behalf of and for the benefit of the beneficiaries in accordance with the Trust Deed.
In Memory of Reverend Pereniki Tauhara
Pereniki (Niki) Tauhara was born and raised in the Far North and lived in Peria inland from Doubtless Bay and affiliated to the Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Kuri, Ngāpuhi and Te Paatu and Te Rarawa tribes. Pereniki had extensive experience on committees, boards, and organisations including health, social services, and education and the founder of Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Trust Board.
A key priority for Pereniki was to uphold the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi 1840) in partnership with the Crown and its agencies.
In early years, Pereniki studied Licentiate Theology and clinical pastoral education at St Johns Theological College for three years. This led to his services in the Ministry as a Kai Karakia of Pārengarenga Ahipara Peria Parish and a Priest of Waimate Taumārere. Pereniki also provided Chaplin care at Middlemore and Kawakawa hospitals and was also a Chaplin facilitator for the Bay of Islands.
Pereniki was a former member of the Te Runanga o Muriwhenua and the Muriwhenua Negotiations Management Committee Ltd established to progress Treaty of Waitangi 1840 (te Tiriti o Waitangi) claims. Other previous roles included chairperson of Kauhanga Kōhanga Reo, Executive Officer of Te Rapu Oranga Tanga o Muriwhenua, and chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Puau Te Moananui-a-Kiwa.
His community involvement has also been centered around waka and kaihautū (lead) for the waka Rangimārie (Peace), kaihautū for waka training of waka Rangimārie, Ngātokimatawhaorua, Te Aukaha, Kuaka, and Maomao. Pereniki had also previously been a coordinator for waka at the Rugby World Cup (2011), Waitangi celebrations, Māngungu celebrations and Internal Thread Art Promotion in San Francisco.
Pereniki’s recent organisation affiliations include chairperson of Kauhanga Marae trustees and Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Trust Board, trustee of Opāpaki Whanau Trust, member of the Tai Tokerau District Maori Council and vice-chair of the Ngāti Kahu Trust Board.
Pereniki was lead claimant before the Waitangi Tribunal for Te Paatu ki Kauhanga for the last eight years, and more recently lead claimant for Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Kahu Marine and Coastal (Takutai Moana) Claim. Pereniki was also a working group member for the new Taipā Bridge in Doubtless Bay since its inception. Pereniki also provided mediation services to whānau (families) and kura (schools).
Pereniki’s vision is to encourage proactive participation by people and communities in government agency decision-making processes, and ensure that resources are effectively managed and equally distributed based on your community needs.
