Field trip brings Stakeholders and Iwi Members together

In late January the Environment Group hosted two field trips attended by the South Waikato District Council (SWDC), members of the Hancock Forest Management (HFM) team and a wider Raukawa rōpū.

The first hīkoi took SWDC Mayor Neil Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer Craig Hobbs and HFM team members to three key sites of cultural importance within the immediate Tokoroa area. Accompanying our manuhiri were RCT Trustee Kataraina Hodge, Kaumātua Kaunihera member Ruthana Begbie and members of the RCT team. The hīkoi was intended to inform attendees as to the range of sites within our rohe, how these sites can add equally to South Waikato histories and identity, and also to educate attendees as to the complexity of land and management issues we face in caring for ngā wāhi tūturu me ngā taonga tuku iho o Raukawa across our rohe.

A couple of days later, the Environment Group hosted the SWDC planning team on a hīkoi showcasing current group work programmes, including the Raukawa Environmental Management Plan and Ngā Wāhi Tūturu projects and two wetland restoration projects. After a shared lunch, the group travelled to Pikitū Marae, where members of the Pikitū whānau gave an overview of environmental initiatives that the marae have underway or are planning for at the moment.

The hīkoi were enjoyed and appreciated by both groups, and have instilled a deeper understanding in all attendees of the ways that Raukawa and the Raukawa Charitable Trust are carrying out their respective kaitiaki roles within the rohe. Both hīkoi were extremely important for Raukawa and RCT in terms of strengthening our relationships with these key partner organisations.

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Staff & Leadership Building!

Every year we gather our staff together from our main and branch offices to celebrate the achievements of the previous 12 months of hard work. The Staff Day Out is also our way to strengthen and renew our whānaungatanga as we head into a new year.

The sun and surf of Tauranga Moana was the venue chosen for the 2013 Staff Day Out. Our rōpū travelled bright and early from Tokoroa where our first stop-off was at the very top of the Kaimai Ranges for a brief history lesson about this site of significance. It was here that we also commenced the first of our five challenges –“the brain teaser, team name challenge and team costume challenge”. With the first three challenges completed, accompanied by a tremendous amount of laughter, we were back on the bus to the Mount for our next activity – “Hīkoi around Mauao”. Extra points were granted for those who walked the steep track to the summit, a few less for the middle track and less again for the base track. As we walked the base and summit, each team was decked out in fanciful team costumes that often attracted the bewildered attention of locals and holidaymakers. Just before tucking into lunch we had an impromptu waiata challenge “Animal Xmas Jingle” which was a real show stopper with Team Party Time succumbing to the victors – Team Contagious.

After lunch, our guest speaker Antoine Coffin spoke about the rich history of this beautiful area and of Ngāti Ranginui. We really appreciated his kōrero and could have easily listened to him all day long. However, it was now time to hit the water at Pilot Bay for a bit of exercise, team building, and fun. Stand-up paddle boards, waka ama, and a floating pontoon made for some hilarious spectating and good fun all around. Alas, as the sun stretched to the west it was time to head back to Tokoroa. The Staff Day Out provided a great opportunity for our kaimahi (over 60 staff in total) to connect and get to know each other better, while having a great time and learning along the way. As the final tally was counted, Team Life Savers took out the bragging rights until the next staff day out. Thank you to all who participated and made our day a huge success.

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