“Mā te mahi ngātahi ka puta mai ngā hua – From working together comes abundance.”
This space is for the hapori (community). A place to meet, collaborate, and grow ideas that serve the greater good. The name, Toitū Te Huatahi, speaks to the strength that comes from unity. It honours both the spirit of collaboration and the whakapapa of Toi Te Huatahi (also known as Toi-kai-rākau) – a tūpuna of the Ngāti Awa and Te Atiawa lineage.
Here, nearby the Huatoki Awa, we continue the work of nurturing collective wellbeing — a tradition grounded in abundance and deep connection to this place.
The clear waters of the awa, with sacred boulders Paiare and Paetawa, once teemed with tuna (longfin eels), piharau (lamprey), kōkopu (cockabully), and kōaro (whitebait), sustaining generations through mahinga kai practices.
The surrounding ngāhere offered shelter and resources, with kahikatea, rimu, and swamp maire among the native trees.
From tītoki that grew in abundance to the shimmering andesite stones, this landscape reflects thriving ecosystem that has long supported life, identity, and resilience.
The legacy of our ancestor Toi Te Huatahi is reflected in our connection with communities across the wider Taranaki rohe. From the nearby foreshore at the edge of Rehua (Tasman Sea) to the southern shores of Pātea, Manawapou, Waiokena, and Waihi. These coastal lands, known as Te Tai o Toi, speak to his enduring presence and the deep whakapapa ties that connect the peoples of Taranaki, from north to south. As a foundation grounded in this whenua, we honour those connections and our shared responsibility across the region.
Toitū Te Huatahi is a living expression of partnership, possibility, and enduring connection to place. Abundance comes when we work together — sharing knowledge, cultivating ideas, and creating space for many voices to thrive.