Skip to main content

Ko Wai Mātou | About Us

Te Papa Ahurewa was formally established in July 2021 with investment from Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana and support from Te Arawa Lakes Trust.

Te Arawa Lakes Trust saw the need for a team of environmental policy and planning experts to support Te Arawa whānau after receiving multiple requests from within Te Arawa for support in this space. Te Arawa Lakes Trust understood that without this support, policy and planning decisions were being made within the rohe without Te Arawa values informing those decisions. As such, a tono was made by Te Arawa Lakes Trust to Toi Moana for funding to support the establishment of a team of experts in policy, planning, consents and kaupapa Māori.

Te Papa Ahurewa is a team of experts available to support Te Arawa whānau, hapū and iwi to engage in environmental reform, policy, planning and consenting. Te Papa Ahurewa is based at the Te Arawa Lakes Trust offices (1194 Haupapa Street) and can be contacted here.

Te Papa Ahurewa is a team of highly qualified individuals with experience and expertise in dealing with resource management and the taiao. From legislative and policy reform, to planning and consents, we are available to support Te Arawa iwi, hapū and whānau to work together toward protecting the quality of our taonga, our whenua, and our waterways.

Haimona Te Nahu

Rakairoa, Te Whanau a Hunaara, Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Rongomaiwahine, Tuwharetoa, Te Arawa.

Born and raised in Rotorua, educated in kohanga reo, kura kaupapa Māori before pursuing a LLB in Laws and a BA in Te Reo Māori and tikanga Māori at Te Whare Wananga o Waikato. Started my career with the Rotorua District Community Law Centre before becoming the Kaitakawaenga / National Māori Co-ordinator for Community Law Centres o Aotearoa for around 9 years. During that time, I also provided support to Aotearoa Kapa Haka Limited, the commercial arm of Te Matatini under the guidance and mentorship of Wi Pere Mita, which continues today.

I am married to a beautiful Ngati Rangiwewehi, Ngati Pikiao, Ngati Hine woman, Ngawiki Mihiaira Ashby. We have three children, Mareikura, Mihiaira and Mohi-Waaka.

My passions are hunting, diving, sports and whanau.

Te Rua Wallace

Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Tūwharetoa, Te Arawa.

Born and raised here in Rotorua, Te Rua attended Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata before pursuing a bachelors degree in Environmental Planning at the University of Waikato. She has interned at numerous organisations including Waikato Regional Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council before finding her feet in Te Papa Ahurewa.

 

Te Rua has always been drawn to the taiao through her whakapapa and likes to spend her spare time bathing in the ngāwhā, swimming in the lakes and exploring the many ngahere withing the Te Arawa area.

Briana Cardon

Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāi Te Rangi, Te Arawa 

Born and raised in Rotorua, I am in my fifth and final year of studying towards a LLB in laws and a BA in Māori and Indigenous Studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Aotearoa. With previous experience as a Law Clerk in a private law firm I look forward to developing skills and an understanding of working within an iwi organisation as an intern for Te Papa Ahurewa.

Outside of mahi I enjoy playing sports and spending time with whānau and friends.

Nāku te rourou, nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi