HOW WE GOT STARTED

In 2012, the Mokoia Community Association made a commitment to supporting Community led initiatives on the Eastside. 

One such initiative was the development of an Aspen Place Maara Kai (Communal Garden). Inspired by a nan in one of Eastside’s most vulnerable communities - Korotere (West Owhata). Nan had enough of the negative influences (youth drinking, smoking, bad associations, trouble making, fighting, rubbish, potholes, uncared for properties and more) in her street, influencing her tamariki (children) and mokopuna (grandchildren).  Nan identified that a different path was needed to channel positive influences (respect for others, know your neighbour, care for the environment, proud of who you are) back into the community. This established the idea of a communal garden with the intent of building a close-knit community, pride and changing attitudes towards one another. To this day the Aspen Place Maara Kai still operates but more importantly, this project lifted the spirits of this community on the Eastside. There have been many community-led initiatives delivered in the Eastside community, spearheaded by a collective of Eastside community organisations including all Eastside hapū on the Eastside, Mokoia Community Association and other organisations committed to the betterment of Eastside residents, meeting fortnightly since 2012 and working collaboratively on numerous initiatives.

TATAU POUNAMU - A COMMUNITY LED VISION

Tatau Pounamu is a community collective made up of residents, hapū, community organisations as well as agencies and government departments, activating Taiao (environmental) and Hunga ao (health & wellbeing) initiatives within the Rotorua Eastside community. Tatau Pounamu has a vision for Eastside Rotorua to be a safe place where every tamaiti (child) reaches their potential.

The whakaaro (plan) behind the Collective’s mahi (work) comes from a Tatau Pounamu Approach that is community led, guided by mana whenua mātauranga (knowledge).

The Tatau Pounamu Collective has made a commitment to using community-led principles, working alongside our residents to identify and meet their needs. These principles include working collaboratively and using a strengths-based, capacity building approach.

Tatau Pounamu covers an area from the Waiohewa Stream to the Puarenga Stream, including Mokoia Island.

OUR APPROACH

The Tatau Pounamu Approach shows the waka that represents the Eastside Community, travelling together towards Tatau Pounamu. 

The winds that move the waka are the four Pou (values) that underpin Tatau Pounamu: Whakapapa, Whanaungatanga, Wairuatanga and Manaakitanga. 

The two hulls of the waka are Taiao, the natural world or environment, and Hunga-ao, the people. The sails represent the many ways the Tatau Pounamu Strategy is put into action by individuals and groups supporting each other and working together to create change.

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