Restoring Arataha, Case Study

Through Sean's leadership via Tohu Whenua Projects Ltd, the Whānau Trust is advancing efforts to resolve the MLC disputes and implement the report's recommendations. This includes pursuing papakāinga housing, biodiversity enhancement, and economic ventures like sustainable forestry or eco-tourism

The project exemplifies how historical challenges can be transformed into opportunities for resilience. As Sean notes in the panui, the whānau remains committed to "tuia i te muka tangata" (binding the strands of people), ensuring the legacy of Paora and Takapuna endures for mokopuna

Tohu Whenua Projects Ltd continues to support similar initiatives, blending project management with cultural expertise to empower Māori communities

Arataha A2A is a 75-hectare (186-acre) block of Māori land in the Tairāwhiti region, held under the Arataha Trust, an Ahu Whenua Trust established in 2006.

This land forms part of the broader holdings of the Paora and Takapuna Rangiuaia Whānau Trust. With the Whānau Trust owning 94% of the shares in Arataha A2A, the site holds deep cultural, historical, and ecological significance for Ngāti Porou iwi.

However, challenges in trust management and interactions with the Māori Land Court (MLC) threatened the whānau's rangatiratanga (self-determination) over their whenua.

Through Tohu Whenua Projects Ltd, owned by Sean Deery, this case study highlights a journey of reclaiming control, addressing historical injustices, and commissioning an in-depth ecological assessment to guide sustainable future development.

Sean's dual role as a responsible trustee and project management expert has been pivotal in navigating legal hurdles and fostering environmental restoration.

A Legacy of Whānau Resilience and Environmental Kaitiakitanga

The four aims for the Paora Takapuna Rangiuaia Whānau Trust

to be legally responsible for their land
to build Papakainga upon their land
to engage in well-being practice, kaitiakitanga, conservation, rehabilitation, nurturing wellbeing for both land and people
to promote a future that includes social, cultural, and economic growth for the Tāngata Whenua

The four aims align perfectly with the Kaupapa, (Principles) of the Paora and Takapuna Rangiuaia Whanau Trust below.

Protect, Maintain and Recloak our Whenua
Enhance opportunities for Papakainga and sensitive Land development, to allow our whanau to live and work on their land
Provide the opportunity for our Whanau to flourish economically, spiritually, and socially under the Kaupapa of Tino Rangatiratanga

Background and Challenges

The Paora and Takapuna Rangiuaia Whānau Trust was formalized in 2003 via the MLC to protect ancestral lands from alienation. Sean, the eldest son of Sarah Janet Rangiuaia (one of the six siblings), was appointed as a trustee representing his mother's line. Over the years, the trust actively managed its assets, with key figures like Uncle Mike King (chairman and CEO) and Aunty Rosina King driving strategies for land use and whānau reconnection.

Following Uncle Mike's passing in 2017 and health issues affecting Aunty Rosina, the trust faced a crisis. In 2018, whānau meetings were held to elect new trustees for both the Whānau Trust and the Arataha Trust.

In 2020, at Maori Land Court hearing at Ruatoria resulted in an order (97 TRW 123-128) removing existing trustees and appointing the Māori Trustee (Te Tumu Paeroa) alongside an advisory trustee. Statements presented to the court suggested minimal whānau interest in managing the land, with claims that "none of the other cousins are interested much" and that the land would be better managed externally. This contradicted decades of active involvement by the Whānau Trust, as evidenced by minutes from 2003, 2014, and 2018.

Sean, upon discovering these proceedings in October 2022, raised serious concerns about the veracity of the information provided to the court. In an email to the MLC Tairāwhiti office, he highlighted how the whānau had been deliberately excluded, noting that Te Tumu Paeroa had his contact details since 2018, but failed to communicate. He argued that the court had been misled, impacting the trust's ability to self-manage and alienating future generations from their heritage.

This culminated in an application to the Chief Judge under Section 45 of Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, filed by Sean and fellow trustee Natasha Wikaira on 18 October 2022. The application sought to amend or cancel the 2020 order, citing mistakes or omissions in the presentation of facts. It emphasized the proactive history of the trust and the adverse effects on whānau mana, including the loss of rangatiratanga over Arataha A2A.

The Chief Judge set a date for the hearing in May 2023 and within a month, Te Tumu Paeroa handed back our Whenua, wishing not to appear before the court.

Sean Deery's Role and Tohu Whenua Projects Ltd

As the owner of Tohu Whenua Projects Ltd (www.tohuwhenuaprojects.nz), Sean brings decades of project management expertise to Māori land initiatives. Specializing in sustainable development, cultural preservation, and community-led projects, his company supports whānau in reclaiming and revitalizing their whenua.

In this case, Sean's involvement was multifaceted:

Advocacy and Legal Rectification: He spearheaded the complaint to the MLC and the Chief Judge application, compiling historical minutes and evidence to demonstrate the trust's ongoing commitment. His efforts aimed to restore control to the Whānau Trust, ensuring decisions align with tikanga and whānau aspirations.
Strategic Planning: Drawing from family hui in 2014 and 2018, Sean organised workshops and whanau tiki tours to reconnect whānau with their lands, fostering a shared vision for future generations.
Commissioning Expert Assessments: Recognising the need for informed decision-making, Sean engaged biodiversity consultant Whaea Sue McGaw to author a comprehensive Land & Environment Report in August 2024. This report, funded and guided through Tohu Whenua Projects Ltd, evaluates Arataha A2A alongside adjacent blocks (Pukemanuka A3 and Waihuka) to support papakāinga development and ecological restoration.

Sean's personal connection—born in Te Puia Springs Hospital in 1960 and raised with strong ties to Waipiro Bay—fuels his dedication. Despite living in Canterbury, he has maintained regular visits to the whenua, emphasizing in the trust's 2022 panui: "Always doing what is best for our Whānau."

Ecological Assessment by Sue McGaw

Sue McGaw, a biodiversity consultant with qualifications in architecture, horticulture, and ecology (NZCD Arch, B Com Hort, MSc Ecol), produced the "Arataha A2A, Pukemanuka A3, Waihuka: Land & Environment Report" for the Whānau Trust. Framed by karakia invoking balance between humanity and nature, the report aligns with tikanga and kaitiakitanga principles.
Key aims include:

Legal Responsibility: Ensuring compliance with Te Ture Whenua Māori Act and environmental regulations
Papakāinga Aspirations: Supporting housing developments that honor cultural heritage
Environmental Wellbeing: "Recloaking Papatūānuku" through native regeneration to enhance biodiversity
Social, Cultural, and Economic Growth: Promoting whānau wellbeing and sustainable economic opportunities.

The environmental study covers site observations, healthy water management, erosion control, fencing, predation mitigation, flora and fauna (including bats, lizards, and invertebrates), fish habitats, climatic pressures, and forestry impacts. It combines past heritage with future strategies, recommending actions like habitat restoration, pest control, and climate-resilient planting.McGaw's work underscores the land's potential as a "puna ora" (life spring), providing a roadmap for the trust to reclaim and enhance the whenua under whānau stewardship