Te Taiao Strategy
Regenerating Whānau, Hapū, and Whenua for Our Future
Ko Waiwakaiho te awa...
Framing Te Taiao
Te Taiao extends far beyond the simple translation of 'ecology' or 'environment'. It embraces a vast, interconnected web of life - encompassing land, sea, sky, ancestors, and all living beings.
Our understanding of Te Taiao is deeply rooted in an indigenous Māori worldview, which acknowledges the living world as a whole, enfolding all that surrounds and sustains us.
As ngā uri o Ngāti Tāwhirikura, Te Taiao is central to our identity,
connection to one another and worldview.
"Ko au te Maunga, ko te Maunga ko au"
I am the mountain, and the mountain is me.
The pepeha expressed by Dr Te Huirangi Waikerepuru recognises the unifying force that is Taranaki maunga and our shared origins with Ranginui (sky father) and Papatūānuku (earth mother). Our tūpuna live on...within the landscape, the air we breathe, and all living things.
Whakapapa binds us intimately to Te Taiao -
to our ancestors, our atua, and the very essence of who we are.
"Ko wai ahau? Ko te wai aha, ko te hau ahau e."
Who am I? I am a descendant of my tīpuna. I am the water; I am the wind
Source Keri Opai, in Whakawai 2022
For our tamariki and rangatahi, Te Taiao is a place for spiritual reconnection, a realm infused with tūpuna energy, where kai is nurtured, and where healing and grounding begin.
“[Te Taiao] helps us with everything; it's a place where we can connect and find kai and grow all our food and just reconnect to a place that we belong".
(TKRW1, Tama, age 14)
“how I explain Te Taiao... it's spiritual, a place of tūpuna, so when I go in the garden,
I feel real tau, and I take the time to whakangā and whakaha…
and I can feel the beautiful energy and spirits".
(TKRW1, Kotiro, age 10)
This holistic and relational perspective frames Te Taiao as a living network of ancestral
connections and reciprocal relationships - deserving of respect, care, and restoration.
We do not just inhabit or govern our environment; we embody it.
Our wellbeing is inseparable from the health of Te Taiao.
Within this context, Te Taiao is the foundation of our Māori worldview and the cornerstone of our intergenerational aspiration: to restore the mauri and mana of all living things through
whānau and hapū-led regeneration.
Regeneration is intrinsic - the pattern of life itself.
Just as the cells in our body continually renew, so too do ecosystems constantly regenerate.
Our tūpuna lived as regenerative cultures, deeply embedded in the bioregions we call home.
Our Te Taiao Strategy is a return to home - to our whenua, our people, and our whānau.
It calls us to awaken to our role as kaitiaki -caretakers and living expressions of Te Taiao.
It acknowledges daunting global challenges but invites us to engage authentically and
respectfully with our local places, people, whakapapa, climate, and whenua.
Our Indigenous Māori worldview is fundamental to this journey.
True regeneration can only happen when we reject the notion that the world exists “other”
for exploitation. Instead, we reclaim our participatory relationship within the whānau of all life, walking forward with responsibility, respect, and reciprocity.
The Story Behind Our Te Taiao Strategy
Our Te Taiao Strategy is more than a document - it is a living, embodied kaupapa shaped and nurtured by the voices of whānau and ngā uri o Ngāti Tāwhirikura Hapū. Rooted firmly in Kaupapa Māori principles, this Strategy was developed through our research and regeneration kaupapa,
Te Kāhui Rau (2022–2024).
Visit the website or download a Summary Report of the kaupapa.
Drawing deeply on indigenous wisdom, mātauranga Māori, and the voices of whānau, it reflects the intricate interconnectedness of kāinga, whenua, culture, and economy - and the ways these dimensions influence the wellbeing of Te Taiao. Our aspiration was for the Strategy to embody the hopes and dreams of our whānau, while also providing clear, actionable pathways to restore the mana and mauri of Te Taiao.
The impact of climate change on Te Taiao is deeply intertwined with colonial history and global inequities. The richest countries, primarily in the Global North and former imperial powers, are responsible for about 90% of excess carbon emissions that have driven climate breakdown beyond safe planetary limits. Yet, the devastating impacts—including displacement, economic disruption, and the majority of climate-related deaths—fall overwhelmingly on the Global South and Indigenous peoples, who have the least capacity to adapt due to long-standing economic inequalities rooted in colonial exploitation.
This disparity means climate change is not just an environmental crisis but a profound social justice issue.
Our Partnership Approach within our Te Taiao Strategy seeks to address the colonial dimensions of climate change by developing strong partnerships that bridge local Indigenous knowledge and values with global movements for justice and sustainability.
By elevating Indigenous voices and fostering equitable collaborations, we can challenge the historic power imbalances that drive environmental and social harm.
We ask all visitors and users to engage with this Strategy with respect and manaaki, acknowledging that it is a taonga of our whanau and hapū. Please ensure any use or reference of this Strategy honours its origins by citing The Rautāpatu Foundation.
Together, we uphold the mauri and mana of our people, whenua, and traditions through this living framework.
Pathway 1:
Revitalising Taiao
Taiao-centric focus on building expertise through education and skills development to accelerate sustainable and regenerative land use changes.
Four Aspirational Pou
Respectful Use of our
Te Taiao Strategy
The Te Kāhui Rau Te Taiao Strategy is a living framework born from the aspirations, knowledge, and values of ngā uri o Ngāti Tāwhirikura.
It reflects the collective voice and enduring mana of our people,
our whenua, and our taiao.
We respectfully ask that any use, sharing, or adaptation of this strategy acknowledges its source and is referenced as the work of
The Rautāpatu Foundation.
This ensures the integrity, cultural authorship, and aspirations embedded within Te Taiao are honoured and upheld.
Thank you for recognising and respecting the rangatiratanga and tino rangatiratanga of our people in sustaining and sharing this vital kaupapa.
Access our Te Taiao Strategy here
To request a copy of our full Te Taiao Strategy 2024-2029
Please email kiaora@rautapatu.nz