He toka tū moana — a rock standing firm in the sea
Te Toka Tū is the joint environmental hub of Tapuika and Waitaha. Waharoa is our one front door for councils, agencies and developers working across our shared rohe, bringing mātauranga, planning and on-the-ground mahi together in one place.
A collective voice for the whenua and the wai
Te Toka Tū was formed under a signed Deed of Agreement, Te Whakaaetanga o Te Toka Tū Moana o Te Tau Ihu. It gives our people a single, coordinated way to care for the taonga we share and to work with government, councils and industry as strategic partners, not as parties consulted one application at a time.
Te Toka Tū works alongside, never in place of, the independent mana, rangatiratanga and settlement rights held by each iwi.
- Joint forumCollective action on kaitiakitanga, environmental management and engagement with government.
- Coordinated positionsAligned resource management, coastal and fisheries positions across the shared rohe.
- Protect and restoreCaring for shared taonga, including Te Maru o Kaituna.
- WhanaungatangaStrengthening the relationships that make this mahi last.
The authority we act under
When you deal with Te Toka Tū you are dealing with a body that has written authority to act. Every piece of mahi we take on traces back to one of these layers.
Te Whakaaetanga
A Deed of Agreement signed by both iwi establishes Te Toka Tū as the joint forum for kaitiakitanga, resource management and engagement with government across the shared rohe.
Ngā Whakaaetanga Ratonga
Service level agreements with each iwi authorise Te Toka Tū to respond on their behalf to resource consent referrals for land and water, cultural monitoring, engagement and environmental mahi.
Ngā Hoa Toihau
Scopes and collective positions are approved by our co-chairs before delivery, so councils and clients know each response carries mandate.
What this means for you: one enquiry through Waharoa reaches the people authorised to respond. Te Toka Tū acts alongside each iwi and never in place of its independent statutory, customary or settlement rights. Where a matter goes beyond our delegations, we take it back to the iwi for direction.
How our mahi is organised
Mana Whakahaere
Sound governance, clear mandate and accountable decision-making for the hub.
Mana Taiao
Resource management, consent referrals, planning and policy across the rohe.
Mātauranga me te Raraunga
Holding and growing mātauranga, registers and evidence to inform every response.
Whakapakari Kaha
Growing our people: cadetships, training and pathways into taiao careers.
Mahi Taiao
Cultural monitoring, riparian planting and restoration projects in the field.
Mana Ōhanga
A sustainable hub that creates value and opportunity for our whānau.
Services for councils, agencies and developers
Resource consent referrals
Review of consent applications, site visits and cultural responses, triaged so effort matches effect.
Cultural impact assessments
Assessments that bring iwi values, history and mātauranga into project design and decisions.
Cultural monitoring
Trained monitors on site during earthworks, works in waterways and other sensitive activities.
Engagement & facilitation
Hui, wānanga, marae engagement and site visits with koeke to capture kōrero properly.
Planning & policy
Spatial planning, plan changes and resource management reform, from the iwi perspective.
Restoration projects
Riparian planting, stream restoration and project management through Mahi Taiao.
How we work with you
Waharoa
Send your enquiry or referral through Waharoa, our one front door.
Scope
Our Kaihautū agrees a clear scope, fee and timeframe with you in writing.
Sign-off
Our co-chairs approve the mahi so you know it carries mandate.
Delivery
We do the mahi, keep you updated and report back.
The team behind Te Toka Tū
Co-chairs
Ray Wihapi
Co-chair
Te Hingatū Marsh
Co-chair
KaihautūThe navigator who leads the mahi day to day and steers each enquiry from Waharoa through to delivery.
Russell Packer
Kaihautū
Luke Whare
Resource management lead
One front door for every enquiry
Councils, consultants and developers: bring consent referrals, project enquiries and engagement requests through Waharoa. We acknowledge it, triage it and route it to the right people.
- 1Enter through Waharoa
Use the form or email waharoa@tetokatu.co.nz.
- 2Acknowledged
We confirm we've received it.
- 3Triaged
Rated green, amber or red and placed with the right Pou.
- 4Kaihautū respond
Your Kaihautū comes back with next steps, a scope or a response.
Email: waharoa@tetokatu.co.nz
Te Puke, Bay of Plenty