MO TATOU
About Us
Te Kawerau ā Maki are a West Auckland-based iwi. Our origins arise through whakapapa to the first human inhabitants of the land – the Tūrehu, and descent from the early migratory people to settle the region, such as the Tini ō Maruiwi and Te Tini ō Toi, to the arrival of the Tainui, Aotea, Moekakara, Tokomaru, Kahuitara, and Kurahaupo canoes in the 14th century, and the Ngati Awa, Ngāoho, and Ngāiwi people who occupied the wider area prior to 1600. We affiliate in particular to the Tainui Waka, leading to Te Kawerau being referred to as ‘the sternpost’ or northernmost people of the Tainui waka.
We take our tribal name from the eponymous ancestor Maki who settled the northern parts of the Auckland region in the early 17th century. The name refers to an event involving Maki and his hapū at Maramatāwhana and Tīneki to the north of Muriwai. From Maki and his wives Rotu and Paretutanganui, and sons Manuhiri, Ngawhetu, Maeaeariki and Tawhiakiterangi, and Maki’s younger brother Matāhu, his wife Te Kura and son Rehua, descend the various sub-tribal groupings that made up the Te Kawerau confederation.
Tawhiakiterangi (Te Kawerau ā Maki) was a son of Maki and along with his wife Marukiterangi are the founding ancestors of the iwi.
Te Kawerau ā Maki area of ancestral and customary interest encompasses the lands of Hikurangi (West Auckland), Te Ipu Kura ā Maki (Auckland Isthmus), Te Whenua roa ō Kahu (North Shore-Whangaparaoa), Mahurangi, Pakiri, southern Kaipara, and the Gulf Islands of Kawau, Hauturu ō Toi (Little Barrier Island) and Tiriti Matangi. The tribal heartland of the iwi is Hikurangi and Ngā Rau Pou ā Maki (Waitākere Ranges) along with lead interests in the Upper Waitematā.
Te Kawerau ā Maki have close ties with a number of iwi across our wider rohe, and for the past 400 years have maintained our ancestral and customary connections to our whenua, moana, and taonga.
Our people however suffered greatly during the 1820s musket raids and again during colonisation. By 1854 the Crown had acquired most of West Auckland with the exception of our two native reserves at Piha and Waitākere Valley. The alienation from our lands and taonga eroded our socio-economic base and left us practically landless as a tribe by the 1950’s. Our last kāinga and marae at Kōpironui (Woodhill) and Waiti (Te Henga/Bethells Beach) were lost to us during this time.
In recognition of the harms done to our people through breaches of Te Tiriti ō Waitangi, the Crown settled our historical claims with us on 14 February 2014. This included an apology and a renewed promise to work with us in accordance with the Treaty. The Te Kawerau ā Maki Claims Settlement Act came into force in November 2015. Today our iwi is in the process of rebuilding our political, social, cultural, environmental, and economic well being. This includes our visible presence at the Arataki Centre, the Henderson Civic Building, and our planned marae at Te Henga and Te Onekiritea (Hobsonville).
Our Vision
Kawerau Iwi, Kawerau Mana, Kawerau Tangata
Our Mission
Represent and advocate the interests of the iwi, manage and grow the tribal assets, and drive iwi development that advances our cultural, social and environmental wellbeing
Our Values
Mana Motuhake (independence and integrity of decision-making)
Kaitiakitanga (maintain and protect our people, environment, and taonga)
Whānaungatanga (place our people at the centre of our mahi)
Auaha (innovation, creativity, and quality in our mahi)
Mātauranga Māori (our culture and tikanga informs and guides our endeavours)
Our Organisational Structure
Te Kawerau ā Maki are represented by Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust which is the post-settlement governance entity established to represent the iwi and to administer the Treaty settlement assets. The Settlement Trust is governed by six elected trustees. The Settlement Trust has two main subsidiaries that combined make up the Te Kawerau Iwi Group.
The Te Kawerau Iwi Investment Trust is the economic and commercial arm of the iwi and manages and grows the assets and pūtea for the benefit of the tribe.
The Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust is the social and environmental arm of the iwi and engages with environmental management and the development of education, employment, housing, health, and cultural projects and programmes.
A marae committee will be established for Te Henga Marae and Te Onekiritea Marae.
Te Kawerau Iwi Group Board Members
Te Warena Taua (M.N.Z.M)
Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust - Chair
Te Kawerau Iwi Investment Trust
George Taua
Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust
Miriama Tamaariki
Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust
Ngarama Walker
Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust
Greg Wetere
Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust
Robin Taua-Gordon
Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust
Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust – Chair
Edward Ashby
Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust – Deputy Chair
Ripeka Read
Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust
Sharyn Gasson
Te Kawerau Iwi Investment Trust
Ward Kamo
Te Kawerau Iwi Investment Trust - Chair
Te Kawerau Iwi Group Officers
Robin Taua-Gordon
Social Outcomes Manager
Edward Ashby
Tiaki Trust CEO and Environment Manager
Ritesh Prasad
Finance Manager
Josie Wall
Education Lead
Aleesha Tia Taua
Education Officer
Tyler Taua-Gordon
Engagement Officer
Pare Fleet
Engagement Officer
Ashleigh McDonald
Environment Lead
Jocelin Friend
Environment Officer
Mihi McMahon
Environment Officer
Renee Busby
Office Coordinator
Jewelz Petley
Community Lead
Dion Hosking
Recovery Navigator
Marica Qata
Recovery Navigator
Our Marae
Te Henga marae and papakāinga represents the cultural renaissance of the iwi and the rebuilding of our people’s wellbeing. Our original marae was lost following the construction of the Waitākere Dam in the early 1900s. As the only iwi in the region without a marae or papakāinga this project is vital to safeguarding our future. The project – known as Te Henga Whakahirahira – is underway and will be built on our ancestral whenua at Te Henga at the front of the Lake Wainamu dune system. It will be an eco-marae focused on sustainability and working with te taiao.
We are currently in the planning phase and need to raise funds for construction – if you can, please donate here.
Project Supporters
We gratefully acknowledge individuals who have contributed funding, time, and advocacy to the project. Key organisational partners include:
