Strategic Vision ‘Kahungunu 2026’ Review and Refresh

Looking forward to ‘Kahungunu 2050’

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In June-July 2025, Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated representatives met kanohi ki te kanohi at each Taiwhenua and the Northern and Southern Taurahere rohe to greet iwi members, share a presentation of the past 25years, display current statistics, hold group discussions, and gather notes that highlight the top 5 aspired priorities for Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi. Now that we have completed the hui, the information has been collated together with feedback from the survey forms and online social media messages received at our iwi office. Based on the extensive kōrero across the rohe, here is a summary of the top 5 strategic priorities and a draft 25-year vision for Ngāti Kahungunu as reflected in the feedback.

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Top 5 Strategic Priorities for Ngāti Kahungunu (2025–2050)

1.​Whānau Wellbeing and Hauora

2. Kāinga (Housing) and Economic Independence

3. Mātauranga (Education and Succession)

4. Te Taiao (Environment) and Climate Readiness

5. Rangatiratanga and Political Representation

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​1. Whānau Wellbeing and Hauora

• Holistic approaches to physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing.

• Culturally tailored healthcare services, aged care, and drug/alcohol rehabilitation.

• Focus on wrap-around support, suicide prevention, and intergenerational wellbeing.

 

Our Manifestation: We will build a future where whānau thrive through holistic wellbeing approaches that uphold wairua, tinana, and hinengaro. Our hauora services will be led by Māori, tailored for Māori, and based on tikanga. This includes:

• Wrap-around support services

• Suicide prevention and addiction treatment

• Kaupapa Māori aged care and kaumātua housing

• Accessible hauora systems across rohe

 

2. Kāinga (Housing) and Economic Independence

• Increase papakāinga, sustainable, and affordable housing for all ages, especially wāhine 55+, rangatahi, and kaumātua.

• Grow whānau/marae-led businesses, improve financial literacy, and build a Kahungunu economy based on whenua, kai, and circular systems.

• Establish a Māori bank and pursue iwi-controlled financial tools (e.g. 0% loans).

 

Our Manifestation:  We will house our people in affordable, warm, and culturally-grounded papakāinga. Whānau will be financially empowered, with tools and knowledge to build intergenerational wealth. Our economic focus includes:

• Papakāinga development for youth, families, and elders

• Establishment of a Kahungunu Bank

• Financial literacy and budgeting education•Whānau/Marae-led business support and procurement

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3. Mātauranga (Education and Succession)

Iwi-led education models including Te Reo, tikanga, history, tech, AI, and trades.

• Create a Whare Wānanga o Kahungunu to train future Māori leaders, lawyers, educators, and innovators.

• Support alternative learning pathways and embed cultural identity in every stage of education.

 

Our Manifestation: We will reclaim our identity and raise generations of bold, brilliant leaders steeped in tikanga and te reo. Our education aspirations include:

• A Whare Wānanga o Kahungunu

• Te Reo revitalisation and immersion from kohanga to wānanga

• Education pathways in trades, tech, AI, law, governance

• Rangatahi leadership, mentoring, and scholarships

 

4. Te Taiao (Environment) and Climate Readiness

• Reconnect with and restore whenua, awa, and moana.

• Embed kaitiakitanga into every decision.

• Prepare for climate change, develop seed banks, recycle waste, and protect food and water sources.

 

Our Manifestation: We will lead climate resilience efforts by caring for our environment as our tīpuna did. Our taiao strategy includes:

• Restoring awa, moana, ngahere, and whenua

• Hapū-led environmental protection and advocacy

• Seed banks and sustainable kai practices

• Climate-ready infrastructure and mātauranga-based land use

 

5. Rangatiratanga and Political Representation

Advance tino rangatiratanga through constitutional transformation.

Build Māori presence in local and central government, and across public institutions.

Influence decision-making systems, dismantle colonising structures, and support indigenous diplomacy and sovereignty.

 

Our Manifestation: We will be politically assertive, shaping our own destiny. This includes constitutional transformation that upholds hapū sovereignty. Our goals are:

• Increase Māori representation in councils, health boards, and agencies

• Establish a political academy under Whare Wānanga o Kahungunu

• Coordinate iwi governance for authentic kotahitanga

• Redesign iwi structures for transparency, responsiveness, and pono

 

OTHER SIGNIFICANT ISSUES IDENTIFIED

 

Housing Crisis

• Overcrowding and homelessness

• Limited housing stock in rural areas

• Support for wāhine 55+ and solo parents

 

Mental Health and Social Isolation

• Widespread loneliness among kaumatua and rangatahi

• Urgent need for culturally responsive mental health services

• Addressing impacts of drug and alcohol harm

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Community Capability and Resilience

• Need for whānau-focused emergency readiness

• Strengthening marae as resilience hubs

• Post-disaster recovery and preparedness

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Constitutional Transformation

• Revisiting the iwi governance structure

• Clear representation of hapū voices

• Alignment with He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi

 

Data and Digital Sovereignty

• Improve Māori census participation

• Develop iwi data systems and ownership of insights

• Strategic use of AI and digital infrastructure

 

Employment and Apprenticeships

• Māori trades and tech pathways

• Progressive procurement strategies

• Whānau-centric employment strategies

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Global Māori Presence

• International indigenous partnerships

• Cultural diplomacy and economic trade

• Promote Kahungunu as a world leader in kaupapa Māori innovation

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Economic Diversification and Māori Enterprise

• Invest in circular and localised economies

• Support for Māori entrepreneurs and SMEs

• Māori participation in global markets

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Access to Services

• Improve accessibility for rural and disabled whānau

• Expand mobile services (health, social, and justice)

• Tailored regional and hapū-based responses

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Sustainable Living and Resource Security

• Grow kai sovereignty and maara kai networks

• Freshwater protection and management

• Self-sufficiency through energy, waste, and food systems

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Kaumātua and Aged Care

• Māori-led aged care models

• Retirement villages grounded in tikanga

• Mobility and housing support

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Educational Equity

• Pathways for non-mainstream learners

• Financial and tech literacy

• Early engagement in trades and professional learning

 

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Ngāti Kahungunu 25-Year Vision: KAHUNGUNU 2050

Our manifestation "E tū Kahungunu! Strong, sovereign and united – for our whenua, our whānau, and our future."

 

By the year 2050, Ngāti Kahungunu will be a flourishing, self-determined iwi—intergenerationally wealthy in identity, knowledge, and wellbeing. We will live connected to our whenua, exercising mana motuhake across our rohe, and guiding our mokopuna to thrive in both te Ao Māori and te Ao hurihuri.

 

Our whānau will live in warm, sustainable homes on their papakainga whenua. Our rangatahi will lead confidently with strong cultural roots, fluent in Te Reo Māori, and contributing in every sector—science, health, law, technology, and the arts. Our kaumātua will live with dignity, supported by Māori-led care systems shaped by manaakitanga and aroha.

 

Our economy will reflect the values of our tīpuna—circular, collective, and regenerative. We will have our own banking systems, health institutions, and education centres. Our people will lead globally, engage politically, and trade internationally while upholding whakapapa and tikanga.Through strong iwi leadership, we will unify our hapū, Taiwhenua, and whānau. We will reassert hapū sovereignty, honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and shape our own future through authentic, inclusive governance.

 

Our Vision - 'Ki te whaiao, ki te ao mārama The continuous pursuit of excellence'

Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated (NKII) recognises the need to review its objectives and align its strategies with the needs of whānau & hapū. We will honour the voice of our people for our people to flourish.

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Our Mission - To enhance the mana and well-being of Ngāti Kahungunu'.

The mission or purpose states the reason for the existence of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated. We believe that this will be achieved by empowering the iwi to achieve success at the levels of whānau, hapū, Taiwhenua, and Taura here. Our people will determine what success is from their own goals and aspirations.

 

Our Guiding Principles

These guiding principles set the boundaries within which we will work and are not to be compromised for financial gain or short-term expediency.

1.Te Tūhonohonotanga o Kahungunu ~ Tapestry of whakapapa that makes us who we are today

2.Te Hononga Māreikura o Takitimu ~ How we relate to other iwi / waka

3.Te Kotahitanga ~ League of peoples

4.Te Whakaputanga o te Ao ~ Declaration of independence

5.Te Tiriti o Waitangi ~ Joint venture with Crown

6.Kanohi ki te kanohi ~ “Face to face”

7.Pakihiwi ki te pakihiwi ~ “Shoulder to shoulder” ~ How we do things

 

Charitable objectives of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated

Promote or assist the education of members of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.

Promote the custody and preservation of the beliefs customs and language of Ngāti Kahungunu.

Promote the social and economic welfare and advancement and vocational training of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi.

Promote community and personal physical, spiritual and mental health & fitness and raise the living standards of members of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.

Promote high-quality communications to or for the benefit of members of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.

 

KAHUNGUNU2050 Strategic Vision Manifestation

By 2050, Ngāti Kahungunu will be thriving as a self-determined iwi—financially independent, culturally vibrant, environmentally resilient, and globally connected, embracing new technology, and new developmental opportunities for growth in all areas of their lives. Our mokopuna will live healthy, joyful lives in harmony with the whenua, fluent in our reo, grounded in whakapapa, and ready to lead the world with courage, wisdom, and aroha, never losing sight of what’s most important, whānau well-being.