Te Puni Kōkiri

18/08/2026

TE HERE-Ā-NUKU (NELSON TENTHS) BILL UNANIMOUSLY PASSES THIRD READING

Te Here-ā-Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill unanimously passed its third reading in Parliament, finalising the restoration of approximately 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) of land in Te Tauihu (the top of the South Island) to its rightful owners.

The Bill’s passage comes after the Crown, Mr Rore Stafford, and representatives of the Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust signed a Resolution Agreement in December 2025 settling the Stafford v Attorney-General litigation (also known as the Wakatū or Nelson Tenths case).

As held by the High Court, the land, in parts of Nelson, Tasman, and Golden Bay, had always belonged to descendants of its original owners, and the Crown had held it since the 1840s as trustee.

Restoring the land to the rightful owners is a significant conclusion for both parties to a more than 180 year wrong.

This is a significant occasion for the Crown and the beneficiaries of Te Here-ā-Nuku Trust, achieved through the commitment of both parties to acknowledge ownership and existing use of the land.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/te-here-%C4%81-nuku-nelson-tenths-bill-passes-third-reading

https://tehereanuku.nz/nelson-tenths-bill-passes-third-reading-tuesday-18-august-2026/

Photo: Rore Stafford speaking at the mihi whakatau at Pipitea Marae ahead of Te Here-ā-Nuku (Nelson Tenths) Bill third reading at Parliament

27/07/2026

Tēnā koutou,

We’ve been alerted to a series of AI generated messages circulating on social media. The latest are using housing repair grants to entice people to click on the message.

These messages include incorrect information and are not produced by Te Puni Kōkiri. We are investigating how to stop these kinds of messages as they are misleading whānau.

All genuine Te Puni Kōkiri messages will appear on our page or website – www.tpk.govt.nz

To protect yourself:
• Do not click on suspicious links
• Report the message to the platform it appeared on

Let’s keep our whānau safe by spreading the word.

18/06/2026

Join the annual Matariki Planting Day, supported by the Ōrākei Local Board and Te Puni Kōkiri. This is a special opportunity for everyone in Tāmaki to come together and give back to whenua during the Matariki season. This year, around 3000 native plants will be planted on Takaparawhau, Bastion Point.

Saturday 20 June: 9:30am-12:30pm, 59B Kitemoana Street, Ōrakei

https://www.facebook.com/share/1PrbAyX9im/

11/06/2026

Te Puni Kōkiri would like to congratulate all 2026 King’s Birthday Honour recipients, especially those recognised for services to Māori.

Minister for Māori Development Hon Tama Potaka has acknowledged recipients for their services to Māori saying the honours reflect decades of leadership, service, and commitment to strengthening Māori communities, language, education, and governance. Read the release here - Māori recognised in King’s Birthday Honours 2026 | Beehive.govt.nz

For more information visit the King's Birthday Honours List 2026 | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) website.

Te Puni Kōkiri would like to congratulate all 2026 King’s Birthday Honour recipients, especially those recognised for services to Māori.

08/06/2026

Congratulations to Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective, winner of the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy, Excellence in Māori horticulture Award.

Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective took home Aotearoa’s most prestigious award for Māori agriculture at the Awards Dinner in Whangārei.

The Collective is a strategic partnership between Te Arawa Group Holdings Limited, Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited and Rotomā No. 1 Incorporation. As Zespri’s largest Māori shareholder, they showcase the power of Kotahitanga and Māori participation within the kiwifruit industry.

Congratulations to the other finalists, Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust and Otama Marere Trust. The calibre of all the finalists demonstrates the ongoing potential of the Māori horticultural sector.

Te Puni Kōkiri is proud to be a platinum sponsor of the Ahuwhenua Trophy.

Congratulations to Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective - winners of the 2026 Ahuwhenua Trophy, Excellence in Māori Horticulture Award.

08/06/2026

Congratulations to Te Rina Joe (Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu), winner of this year’s Young Māori Grower Award at the Ahuwhenua Trophy Awards Dinner.

The Young Māori Grower Award celebrates the next generation of leadership within the Māori horticultural sector.

Te Rina is a Supervisor/Orchard Hand at Pakuratahi Orchard for Ngāti Pāhauwera Commerical Development Ltd at Tangoio, Hawke’s Bay. She started her horticultural journey picking fruit with her whānau at 15-years old and now works for her iwi, overseeing teams of 40-60 workers across a 55-hectare apple orchard.

Congratulations to all the finalists of this year’s Young Māori Grower Award:

Pic 2: Larissa Wooding-Ngata (Ngāti Porou) | Foreperson, Craigmore Sustainables

Pic 3: Robert John Manuel (Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Rehia, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Raakaipaaka) | Team Supervisor Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust

📸: Alphapix.co.nz

04/06/2026

Celebrating Mātai Pacific Iwi Collective as one of three finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy, Excellence in Māori Horticulture Award.

Based in Te Moana-a-Toi, the Collective is a strategic collaboration between Te Arawa Group Holding, Ngāti Awa group Holdings and Rotomā No. 1 Incorporation. The Trust operates three orchards and is Zespri’s largest Māori shareholder, exemplifying kotahitanga,iwi collaboration, and kaitiakitanga in action.

This Friday, 5 June, we celebrate excellence, innovation and leadership in Māori horticulture at the Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition Awards Dinner in Whangārei.

Te Puni Kōkiri is proud to congratulate this year’s three outstanding finalists on the important work they are doing for whenua and whānau.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/matai-pacific-iwi-collective/
📸: Alphapix.co.nz

04/06/2026

Nau mai, haere mai ki a Dion Tuuta.

Today, Te Kawa Mataaho (Public Service Commission) announced that Dion Tuuta (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Te Ātiawa, Taranaki) has been appointed as Secretary for Māori Development - Chief Executive of Te Puni Kōkiri.

Dion brings a wealth of experience as a Chief Executive and governor across Māori organisations. We look forward to welcoming Dion on 1 July 2026.

The full announcement from the Public Service Commission can be found here at the link below:
https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/news/secretary-for-maori-development-and-chief-executive-te-puni-kokiri-appointed

📸: Te Kawa Mataaho

03/06/2026

Celebrating Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust as one of three finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy, Excellence in Māori Horticulture Award.

Based in Te Tai Tokerau, the Trust is an Ahu Whenua Trust that operates six kiwifruit orchards in Kerikeri. Grounded in the vision of He Whenua Hua, He Tangata Ora, Productive Lands, People Wellbeing - the trust is committed to kaitiakitanga, people capability, alongside commercial success.

This Friday, we celebrate excellence, innovation and leadership in Māori horticulture at the Ahuwhenua Trophy Competition Awards Dinner in Whangārei.

Te Puni Kōkiri is proud to congratulate this year’s three outstanding finalists on the exceptional work they are doing for whenua and whānau.

https://www.facebook.com/p/Ng%C4%81ti-Hine-Forestry-Trust-61578092671681/
📸: Alphapix.co.nz

22/04/2026

Changes to the Māori Land Court Rules 2011 will come into effect on 30 April 2026, through the Māori Land Court Amendment Rules 2026. These changes will help Māori landowners to progress their issues before the court.

Changes to the Māori Land Court Rules and commencement of Māori Land Court dispute resolution provisions.