National Recognition for Maraetaha Inc and Gisborne District Council Partnership

Credit: Gisborne District Council

Maraetaha Incorporated, te iwi o Ngāi Tāmanuhiri and Gisborne District Council have been named finalists in the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Growing Native Forests Champions Awards, in the Large Scale Restoration Project category, with the national winner set to be announced at Fieldays by Forestry Minister Hon Todd McClay on Friday afternoon. 

For Tairāwhiti, this recognition is about much more than an award. 

It is acknowledgement of what can be achieved when mana whenua, iwi, local government and community partners come together with a shared vision for the future of our whenua. 

At the heart of the nomination is the Waingake Transformation Programme, an ambitious long-term restoration project that is seeing approximately 1,200 hectares of former production forestry transitioned back into indigenous forest. The programme, delivered through a partnership between Maraetaha Incorporated and Gisborne District Council, aims to restore native biodiversity, strengthen water security, improve land resilience and reconnect whanau with the cultural and environmental values of the whenua. The project sits within the Waingake catchment, a landscape of significant importance to Maraetaha descendants. It also plays a critical role in protecting Gisborne's municipal water supply and supporting the long-term health of the catchment  (Waingake Transformation Programme, 2026). 

For Tairāwhiti Whenua, the recognition highlights many of the conversations we have been having across the region about the future of whenua Māori. 

As Māori landowners continue to navigate the challenges of erosion, climate resilience, biodiversity loss and economic sustainability, projects such as the Waingake Ngahere program demonstrate what land use transformation can look like when it is grounded in whakapapa, supported by strong partnerships and driven by a long-term intergenerational vision. 

The scale of the restoration is significant, but equally important is the approach. 

Rather than viewing environmental restoration as separate from economic or community outcomes, the project recognises that healthy landscapes support healthy communities. Native forest establishment contributes to improved water quality, reduced sedimentation, greater biodiversity, enhanced climate resilience and future opportunities for local employment, training and environmental stewardship. 

This reflects a growing understanding across Tairāwhiti that the future of our whenua will require integrated solutions that balance productivity, protection and the aspirations of future generations. 

The partnership between Maraetaha Incorporated, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri and Gisborne District Council is also a powerful example of what can be achieved through genuine collaboration. While the challenges facing our region are significant, initiatives like this demonstrate the value of bringing together local knowledge, mana whenua leadership, technical expertise and whanau commitment to create lasting outcomes. 

At Tairāwhiti Whenua, we know there is no single organisation that can solve the challenges facing our landscapes alone. The most enduring change occurs when communities work together around shared goals and a collective commitment to protecting the taiao for those who come after us. 

"This award recognises a significant achievement in landscape-scale restoration and demonstrates the effectiveness of partnership-based approaches to land management. The project delivers tangible benefits for environmental resilience, catchment health and future generations." - Hilton Collier, CEO Tairawhiti Whenua. 

‘This award reflects the vision of our tipuna and the commitment of our whānau to restore, protect and enhance our whenua. We thank our whanau for being at the forefront of change. This mahi demonstrates the strength of Partnership, collective leadership and kaitiekitanga. We are proud of what has been achieved, we see this as one step in a much longer journey to ensure our whenua, ngahere and wai continue to thrive for and with our tamariki and mokopuna.’ – Bella Hawkins, Chair, Maraetaha Incorporated. 

Regardless of Friday's result, being recognised as a national finalist places a spotlight on the important work underway in Tairāwhiti and the leadership being shown by those investing in the future of our whenua. 

It is a reminder that restoration is not simply about planting trees. It is about strengthening resilience, restoring mauri, protecting vital resources, supporting communities and ensuring future generations inherit landscapes that are healthier, stronger and better able to thrive. 

Tairāwhiti Whenua congratulates Maraetaha Incorporated, Ngai Tamanuhiri and Gisborne District Council on this outstanding achievement and wishes them all the very best for the national awards announcement at Fieldays.