SFF Project Summary
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Latest Update
Final report
Updated:
25 July 2008
Autumn Conference [140K PDF]
Wahine Whanau Whenua Annual
Conference
He Wahine He Whanau He Whenua is creating the opportunity for women and whanau to strengthen their roles as land owners and decision makers in a quest to increase the sustainable viability of their lands and reconnect with their whenua in positive ways.
Māori women say they have enjoyed the opportunity to share their hopes and aspirations with others as they turn to familiar means of expression such as waiata and whakatauki to express their experiences, stories and relationship with the land.
The Kingcountry group was the first to roll out their programme of workshops/hui. This began with an address to the Maniapoto Māori Trust Board and a presence from members at the Maniapoto Economic Business summit that followed soon after.
These events provided the impetus for a local group to emerge in the Waitomo Caves area. With a long term goal to collectivise with other owners of small blocks they hope to maximise access to information and technology with help from the programme.
A workshop in the Kingcountry: Local Māori landowners pour over maps of their land blocks
Raglan, landowners, challenged with balancing commercial realities with long term environmental care, were referred to the programme from Manukau. In the meetings and workshops that ensued they have benefited from expertise provided by commercial sector expertise at Ag Research.
Among local groups there is a growing appreciation of the Sustainable Farming Fund and the opportunities that have been made available through this project to interact with lead scientists from Ag Research such as Mike O'Connor, Gary Orbell, Gavin Sheath and Liz Wedderburn.
Latest update
WWW at the Agriculture Fielday 2006 with the information brochures and bannerects they created to promote their programme.
The corn and potato varieties were brought in by Tahuri Whenua who shared the space with www.
Dr Ngapare Hopa, member of the executive management committee WWW describes saffron as “a magical little flower”.
Here is Bernie pointing to one that has been orphaned from the others in the Chadwick whanau garden
Women who inspire us; Queenie Chadwick is definitely one of those women!.
Wahine Whanau Whenua members enjoy their visit with her and her family in her saffron garden.
Experimenting with watercress
Kaiwaka is creating his own waterway so he can add watercress to the list of vegetables and herbage that abound in his and his partner Lyns organic garden
Quarterly Update: March 2006
The 2005 year ended with the convening of the annual gathering of groups affiliated to the Sustainable Faring Fund programme entitled "Wahine Whanau Whenua". It was an enormously successful event in terms of confirming 'tip of the iceberg' interest by Māori in land utilisation and Sustainable Farming.
Initial meetings were used by the group to decided their aims and objectives. and prepared their first power point presentation. This would be used later to convey the aims and objectives of WWW to Māori authorities and trusts. Milestones were drawn up and a plan of action outlined. Workshops and training events were planned to meet dual objectives of growing innovation and leadership among Māori women and bringing both old and new knowledge to landowners and farmers according to their local requirements and needs.
The overall aim has been to increase benefit to Māori from better utilisation of their lands and farms. A range of topics related to sustainable farming have been covered by speakers including scientist, local farmers and members of the Wahine Whanau Whenua network.
This pie graph shows the topics covered in workshops over the first year.
The above graph shows the agencies Wahine Whanau Whenua is associated with.
Representatives from the Wahine Whanau Whenua executive attended FOMA for a second time.
Local interest in Wahine sustainable farming, land utilisation and the programme Wahine Whanau Whenua is increasing with each workshop and this is being reflected in the numbers attending workshops. Three local groups have offered to act as host to others wishing to visit their farms and land based business. Such visits will be included in the planning for 2006 .
Ultimate Design is assisting the group establish their website. Younger Māori women are assisting with marketing and logo design.
June 2005
During the quarter to June 05 there has been an emergence of interest in the programme from 'more established' land based business and the start of some collaborative discussions with representatives from agencies with similar goals to assist Māori in business.
Linkages forged by the executive group leader and convenor for the Manukau resulted in WWW running three 'discussion group' meetings with organic gardeners in Raglan.
A weekend workshop, was held at the request of one group to review the economic viability of their enterprise. Calling on their expanding network of specialists WWW was able to enlist an experienced commercial manager to guide this process much to the appreciation of the group concerned.
The Raglan/Whaingaroa group convened a gathering to bring together a number of agencies in one forum allowing WWW representatives the opportunity to meet representatives from a range of agencies including Trust Waikato, Work and Income, Māori Development, and Māori Trusts and elders from Tainui. This resulted in discussions between groups about collaborative approaches to better assist Māori business groups towards achieving their goals. These discussions are ongoing.
Training is being offered to regional leaders in governance, programme management and leadership. A special effort is being given to training for the effective utilisation of the Māori Land Use National Resource Kit with assistance from the Māori Facilitation Service.
At the last meeting of leaders, the Turangi and Taumarunui group convenors have decided to pool their efforts and work together to provide extension activity and hui to an increasing number of Māori land trusts looking to benefit from the activities being planned for those areas.
In Whangamata the focus of the executive leader continues to be in the area of sustainable management and the preservation of the islands and natural resources in that area.
The executive group is planning to double the number of workshop, training and conference activity over the spring and early summer. Preparations are well underway for the combined gathering of all groups in a conference forum set for the first week of November at the .
There is strong interest in underpinning the WWW programme with research. Two members of the executive are scoping the possibilities for this to happen and an application is expected to be put to Nga Pae o te maramatanga at the University of Auckland.
to May 2005
He Wahine He Whanau He Whenua is on course to have all five local groups delivering workshops before the end of June. A conference involving all five groups is being planned for September when each locality will have had the opportunity to establish their membership more fully.
