Based at Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Te Papa Ahurewa is a hub of highly qualified technicians with expertise in kaupapa Māori and environmental processes.  Te Papa Ahurewa is available to provide environmental advocacy to any Te Arawa iwi, hapū and whānau who request support in this area. Whilst the team are available to support in a technical capacity, Te Papa Ahurewa is not designed to make decisions on behalf of whānau, hapū, or iwi. The mana of each whānau, hapū and iwi rests with those rōpū and external agencies, such as local and regional council, have an obligation to engage directly with whānau, hapū and iwi as Treaty partners.

Te Papa Ahurewa acknowledges Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana for supporting the vision of Te Arawa Lakes Trust to establish Te Papa Ahurewa – a taiao hub of environmental technicians available to support Te Arawa iwi, hapū and whānau with technical environmental matters. Te Papa Ahurewa further acknowledges the funding provided by Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana to support the establishment of Te Papa Ahurewa.