Working Together in Partnership

Collaboration in action

Mahi tahi - Working together with Māori

Kaipātiki Project actively works with Māori communities in environmental and community initiatives. Our kaupapa (guiding principles) are rooted in a community-led approach that embraces te ao Māori (the Māori worldview), incorporates mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge systems), promotes chemical-free practices, and encourages a holistic, whole system based view of environmental stewardship.

Martin Te Moni (Ngāti Whanaunga) and Adrian Pettit (Te Ākitai Waiohua) contributed to the Kaipātiki Project EcoHub building design concept, including early involvement in the planning stages to leading the blessings at the start of deconstruction and opening the new space.

We are also engaged with Māori communities through local marae, Awataha Marae and Te Kamaka Marae in Northcote.

Below are some other key ways we collaborate with Māori.

Regeneration of Eskdale and Witheford Reserves

Kaipātiki Project has collaborated with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei since 2004 on a range of environmental initiatives. Notably, this includes delivering the Community Planting Coordinators Training Programme over six years, and subcontracting Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei for three years to carry out restoration work in Eskdale and Witheford Reserves—work that could not be completed by volunteers alone. We have also worked alongside Te Kawerau ā Maki on shared environmental goals, recognising their important role as mana whenua in Tāmaki Makaurau. Our respective native plant nurseries maintain a close relationship, with ongoing knowledge and resource sharing that strengthens our collective restoration efforts.

Read more about our work in Eskdale & Witheford Reserve.

Te Aka Kōtuia

Since 2018 Kaipātiki Project has driven the Te Aka Kōtuia | Kaitiaki & Community Nurseries programme in partnership with Uru Whakaaro and Auckland Council. Te Aka Kōtuia is a collaboration comprised of iwi, hapū and community native plant nursery specialists who understand kaitiaki and community-centred approaches to restoration. Our aims are to support the restoration of Auckland’s diverse ecosystems, increase biodiversity and strengthen relationships between kaitiaki and community groups in their local places.

Read more about our work on Te Aka Kōtuia.

Te Ara Awataha

Since 2019 Kaipātiki Project has successfully been delivering on the aspirations of Take Mauri Take Hono (Mauri Indicator Framework), for the Te Ara Awataha Greenway Regeneration programme working in partnership with Ngā Iwi Mana Whenua o Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland Council, Eke Panuku Development Auckland, Kaipātiki Local Board and Kāinga Ora. It has become a multi award-winning programme.

Read more about our work in Te Ara Awataha.