ABOUT
NGĀTI WAEWAE
NGĀTI WAEWAE
Our Mahi: Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae
Ngāti Waewae is the hapū. The people, whakapapa, tikanga, history, mana whenua and responsibilities.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae is the structure that helps carry that voice into governance, legal, cultural, environmental, commercial and community spaces.
As one of the Papatipu Rūnanga of Ngāi Tahu, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae also carries our voice within the wider Ngāi Tahu structure. The Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Act 1996 recognises the Papatipu Rūnanga structure within Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
Contents
Our purpose
What does the rūnanga do?
The rūnanga exists to uphold the mana, wellbeing and aspirations of Ngāti Waewae whānau.
Our mahi includes:
- supporting Arahura Marae
- representing Ngāti Waewae in local and regional kaupapa
- protecting taonga, wāhi tapu and places of significance
- supporting cultural and environmental advice
- creating opportunities for rangatahi and whānau
- strengthening education, mātauranga, tikanga and identity
- building relationships with councils, agencies, organisations and the wider community
- planning for the generations still to come
The mahi is broad, but the purpose is simple: to serve Ngāti Waewae whānau and protect the mana of our people, whenua and taonga.
Hapū and structure
Carrying the voice of Ngāti Waewae
Ngāti Waewae is our people, whakapapa, tikanga, history and mana whenua.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae helps carry those responsibilities into the spaces where decisions are made, relationships are built and kaupapa are supported.
At the centre of the rūnanga is the same kaupapa that has always guided Ngāti Waewae: to care for our people, protect our taonga and uphold our responsibilities on Te Tai o Poutini.
Post-settlement
Our post-settlement journey
The Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement recognised serious Crown breaches and losses suffered by Ngāi Tahu. The Ngāi Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998 records the Crown apology and gives effect to the Ngāi Tahu settlement.
For Ngāti Waewae, the post-settlement era has been about rebuilding strength, capability and presence.
That means investing in whānau, strengthening Arahura Marae, supporting mātauranga and tikanga, growing environmental and cultural capacity, creating education and employment pathways, and ensuring Ngāti Waewae has a voice in decisions affecting Te Tai o Poutini.
Our responsibilities around pounamu are carried within the wider Ngāi Tahu pounamu framework. The Ngāi Tahu (Pounamu Vesting) Act 1997 vested Crown-owned pounamu in the Ngāi Tahu takiwā in Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, recognising a long-held promise to Ngāi Tahu.
Looking forward
Rebuilding strength and presence
Our post-settlement journey is not only about what was returned. It is about what we rebuild, protect and strengthen for those who come after us.
This includes marae development, whānau support, rangatahi leadership, mātauranga, environmental advocacy and strong relationships across Te Tai o Poutini.
The settlement created a foundation. The ongoing mahi is to keep building from that foundation with integrity, tikanga and a clear responsibility to future generations.
Governance and mahi
Our Committees
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae is supported by committees that help carry key areas of mahi.
Each committee has a different focus, but all are grounded in the same kaupapa: serving Ngāti Waewae whānau and strengthening our future.
We value all Ngāti Waewae whānau, whether they live at home or away. For committee roles, we also recognise the importance of ahi kā, those who keep the home fires burning, and whānau who are able to regularly be present on Te Tai o Poutini to support hui, kaupapa, marae life and rūnanga responsibilities.
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee provides governance and leadership for Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae.
Its role is to help guide the overall direction of the rūnanga, support decision-making, oversee key kaupapa, and ensure the organisation continues to act in the best interests of Ngāti Waewae whānau.
The Executive Committee helps carry the responsibility of representing whānau, protecting rūnanga interests, supporting the marae, and making sure decisions are made with accountability, transparency and tikanga.
This committee also supports the long-term vision of Ngāti Waewae, balancing the needs of today with the responsibilities we hold for future generations.
Executive Committee Members
Chairperson: Francois Tumahai
Deputy Chairperson: Hamiria Ngaamo
Secretary / Secretariat: Aleigha Ngaamo
Executive Members:
- Teena Henderson
- Lisa Tumahai
- Te Rua Mason
- Courtney Sargeant
- Joe Mason
Rangatahi Representatives:
- Henare Mason
- Aleigha Ngaamo
Komiti Mātauranga
Te Komiti Mātauranga o Ngāti Waewae is made up of whānau members who have a passion for uplifting, protecting and sharing Ngāti Waewae mātauranga.
The komiti supports education, te reo Māori, tikanga, pūrākau, whakapapa and kaupapa that help whānau, tamariki, kura and the wider community connect with Ngāti Waewae identity, history and knowledge.
About the Komiti
Established in 2012 by the Executive Committee, the komiti was created to strengthen relationships with kura and education providers across the Ngāti Waewae takiwā, and to build the capability of whānau, hapū and community to deliver Ngāti Waewae mātauranga.
The komiti has been supported by many whānau members over the years. Early members included Teena Henderson, Lisa Tumahai, Tangi Weepu, Ben Hutana, Joe Mason, Barbara Tainui, Violet Bradley, Papakura Tainui, Tihou Weepu and Te Whe Weepu, with Hamiria Hutana as facilitator.
Today, the komiti continues this mahi through wānanga, local resources, kura engagement, community education, te reo Māori strategy, and kaupapa that support whānau and tamariki to know who they are and where they come from.
A key part of this current mahi is led by Ariana Stevens, who chairs the komiti and supports the connection between Ngāti Waewae, kura, education providers and whānau. Through this work, Ngāti Waewae mātauranga is shared in ways that are respectful, practical and grounded in our own voice.
Rautaki Mātauranga
Te Komiti Mātauranga is guided by our Rautaki Mātauranga, which informs the way we engage with and support our whānau and hapori.
Our Rautaki Mātauranga sets out our purpose, vision, values and key pou for 2026 to 2028.
Our Purpose
To serve effectively as mana whenua of our rohe by providing opportunities to engage in mātauranga that deepens connection to Ngāti Waewaetanga and empowers our whānau to thrive.
Our Vision
Ngāti Waewae is recognised and valued as mana whenua across our rohe, and our whānau are equipped with the mātauranga they need to determine and walk their own pathway.
Our Values
Authentic
We present ourselves honestly as legitimate representatives and advocates for our Rūnanga and hapū.
Professional
We have an expanding collective wealth of experience and expertise in our kaupapa and conduct ourselves with integrity.
Responsible
We recognise the intergenerational nature of our kaupapa and are driven to make the biggest impact that we can.
Compassionate
We draw on our connections and mātauranga to offer genuine empathy and tautoko in relevant ways.
Pou 1: Whānau
- Whakapapa, history and identity: Whānau are confidently able to trace and share their own whakapapa and understand their place within Ngāti Waewae and Te Tai Poutini.
- Te reo Māori and cultural skills: Whānau have regular, meaningful opportunities to strengthen their te reo Māori and cultural practices.
Pou 2: Hapori
- Strengthen hapori understanding of Ngāti Waewae as mana whenua: Ngāti Waewae is consistently recognised and acknowledged as mana whenua within our rohe of Te Tai Poutini.
- Transform education spaces with localised knowledge and presence: All schools and ECEs in our rohe engage annually with Ngāti Waewae kaupapa and integrate local content.
- Build capability across sectors through cultural professional development: Professionals across our rohe understand and value Ngāti Waewae as mana whenua and apply this in their mahi.
- Nurture whanaungatanga and collective impact across our rohe: Ngāti Waewae is at the centre of strong, enduring relationships grounded in whanaungatanga.
View the full Rautaki Mātauranga on this page
Our Kaupapa
Some of the kaupapa developed, delivered or endorsed by Komiti Mātauranga include:
- Wānanga for whānau, including te reo Māori, mau rākau, pūrākau and whakapapa.
- Wānanga for the community, including Te Tiriti, te reo Māori and skills-based learning.
- Support for ECEs and kura within our takiwā, including te reo Māori, pūrākau, local mātauranga and advice.
- Ngāti Waewae’s strategy for te reo Māori.
- Resources and kaupapa that support the sharing of Ngāti Waewae mātauranga in respectful and useful ways.
Komiti Mātauranga Members
Chair
Ariana Stevens
Members
Andrea Read
Davida Simpson
Jake Manera
Maia Tonihi
Shanita Whittle
Jerry Pu
Marae Support Staff
Hamiria Ngaamo
Miriama Johnsen
Aleigha Ngaamo
Get Involved
If you would like to engage with any of our kaupapa or mahi, please sign up to our newsletter. We send pānui out for upcoming opportunities to connect, learn and participate.
We can support with developing workshops, wānanga, classes and resources for a range of different contexts. If you would like to discuss a specific kaupapa of interest for yourself, your organisation, kura or community, please get in touch with the Arahura Marae Office.
Email: Waewae.Admin@ngaitahu.iwi.nz
Phone: 027 755 6451
Rangatahi Komiti
The Ngāti Waewae Rangatahi Komiti supports rangatahi voice, leadership and participation across Ngāti Waewae.
First formed informally in 2021, the komiti was formally established in December 2024 as a subcommittee of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae.
Its purpose is simple: to empower Ngāti Waewae rangatahi to be the best they can be by providing the resources, opportunities and support they need to succeed.
The komiti works to ensure Ngāti Waewae is a vibrant, inclusive and empowering community. A place where young people feel connected, valued and excited to be involved.
Its mahi includes representing rangatahi, promoting opportunities for participation, advising the Executive Committee on rangatahi matters, supporting youth-led kaupapa, and creating spaces for rangatahi to contribute to the future direction of Ngāti Waewae.
A key part of this mahi is Fusion, our school holiday programme based at Arahura Marae. What was once a space created for our tamariki has now become a platform led by rangatahi themselves. Through Fusion, rangatahi plan and deliver a week of mātauranga, adventure and fun for the next generation of Arahura Pā boys and girls.
Rangatahi Komiti Members
Chair: Aleigha Ngaamo
Members:
- Elly Mulholland
- Henare Mason
- Dani Tainui
- Brooke Parker
- Ani Mason
- Whakataerangi White
- Tonihi Paewhenua
- Alamein Meihana-Whittle
Rangatahi Mahi in Action
Rangatahi mahi is at the heart of our future. From Fusion and kapa haka to whānau events, wānanga and youth-led kaupapa, our rangatahi are not only participating, they are leading, teaching and creating spaces for the next generation.
Get Involved
Ngāti Waewae whānau are encouraged to stay connected, attend hui, contribute to kaupapa and share their skills, knowledge and ideas.
Whether you live at home on Te Tai o Poutini or away from the Coast, your connection matters.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae exists to serve our people, now and for the generations who come after us.
Contact us to get involved e te whānau!