About Us

Ko te tangata te kaupapa (people are the reason)

Ko te tikanga te tuapapa (culture is the foundation)

Ko te Marae te matatiki (the Marae is the resource)

Who is Nga Kairauhii?

• Nga Kairauhii is a collaboration of Marae working for Marae.

• Nga Kairauhii os committed to the health and wellbeing of Marae

• Nga Kairauhii supports the cultural integrity of Marae

The collective is made up of six Marae, Waimarama, Matahiwi, Mihiroa, Omahu, Runanga and Te Awhina. Nga Kairauhii was established in 1999 as a response to concerns for the health and wellbeing of Marae. More recently Nga Kairauhii has been involved in Marae health research. In 2007 Nga Kairauhii was approached by Te Puni Kokiri and Hawke’s Bay District Health Board to develop solutions that will support the wellbeing of whanau in Māori communities using marae as the focal point for the service and activity delivery.

Nga Kairauhii Trust Board Structure

• The Board is made up of two delegates from each member Marae

• Delegates are nominated from their respective Marae and have full voting rights

Nga Kairauhii operates under the following guidelines:-

• • We accept that "the marae" is a traditional system and Nga Kairauhii operates under that system

  • We recognise the mana and integrity of Marae and are guided by "tikanga"

  • We do not presume to represent Marae and will not act without mandate

  • We do not become involved in internal politics of Marae

  • We have an obligation to ensure that our actions do not disadvantatge Marae in any way

Nga Kairauhii will further the interests of Marae by acting as:-

A Pressure Group

Where individual Marae have difficulty acting alone, the collective nature of Nga Kairauhii can come up with the "numbers" and ensure that many excellent initiatives are not lost

Advocates

We occupy a niche between those who provide services and their clients. We can broker in both directions but our primary role remains as that of an advocate on behalf of Marae.

Monitors

Any system or service that impacts upon Marae must be culturally and socially appropriate. Nga Kairauhii will monitor where required.

Providers

Nga Kairauhii prefers to work with existing providers, however where a service is not existent or inappropriate, then Nga Kairauhii may be involved

Research

Nga Kairauhii is committed to professional research

Co-ordinators

Nga Kairauhii will assist in better utilisation of limited resources

Communicators

The free flow of information between Marae is highly desirable. Nga Kairauhii is an ideal forum to promote this activity.