Huakina Development Trust
Ka Tuu Rangatira Ai Hei Oranga Moo Tatou
Hei Arahi, Hei Whakanuia, Oranga Tangata, Oranga Taiao
Empowering Our Communities From the Lower Waikato River to the Manukau Harbour
When our people are strong, they can care for the whenua and for one another.
At Huakina Development Trust, we support our communities by creating opportunities for whaanau to grow in knowledge, overcome challenges, and take collective responsibility for protecting our waterways, land, air, and sacred places.
Map of Huakina Development Trust Boundary
23 marae of Te Puuaha Ki Maanuka
Green are the 11 marae we currently affiliate with.
The 12 marked in black represent those we no longer affiliate with (either independent or no longer functioning as marae).
Where We Came From
(Te Tiimatanga)
1970s - Taking Care of Our Land
The modern-day Huakina emerged from a support group called Te Puuaha ki Maanuka in the late 1970s. When Waikato Tainui fundraised for the new Kimiora complex at Tuurangawaewae, the late Te Arikinui gave this area the name "Te Puuaha ki Maanuka."
Concerned about the pollution and damage to the Waikato River, the Manukau Harbour, Whenua, and Waahi tapu, Kaumaatua and Kuia from Waikato Tainui Marae and Papakaainga joined forces.
Due to their collective strength, they gained notoriety and quickly developed into an environmental pressure organization that addressed the effects on our Taonga and Whenua.
1980s - Extending Our Responsibilities
Sir Robert Mahuta of the Tainui Maaori Trust Board addressed Te Puuaha ki Maanuka in the early 1980s. He requested that they think about joining the Tainui Maaori Trust Board's Management Committee. This would entail taking accountability for social, health, and economic portfolios as well as expanding their duty to include environmental care.
Waikato Tainui's northern tribal territory will be looked for by Te Puuaha ki Maanuka and 23 Waikato Tainui Marae and Papakaainga. Consequently, the Huakina Development Trust was established as a charitable trust in 1983.
Huakina's responsibilities increased in the ensuing years. Due to their extensive environmental knowledge and understanding of the whenua, Huakina was appointed the Tainui Maaori Environmental Authority in the late 1980s.
1990s - Onwards
To this day, out of the 23 Waikato Tainui Marae and Papakaainga that were affiliated with Huakina, 11 remain.
The Marae Whaanau, no longer with Huakina, are providing remedies for their socio-economic concerns and participating in enhancing and protecting their environment and special places.
Those who remain with Huakina can do the same but choose to stay within a Marae Cluster while identifying issues they will manage for themselves, e.g. environment.
Huakina continues to deliver on its original objective of looking for opportunities that will assist in achieving its vision and mission.
Our Whaanau and Community
For more than three decades, Huakina has stood alongside our community, supporting whaanau — especially Maaori whaanau — through times of significant change.
Our roots lie firmly with the Maaori community, particularly the whaanau connected to Waikato-Tainui marae and papakāinga within the Te Puuaha ki Maanuka tribal region, now widely known as Counties Manukau.
Today, our reach extends further. Our community now includes Taurahere, European, Asian, and Pacific peoples, with nearly half of those accessing our services being non-Maaori. While our foundation is kaupapa Maaori, our doors remain open to all who walk with respect for our values.
Supporting Our Whaanau
Over the years, we’ve built valuable knowledge and experience through our work across diverse areas such as kaitiakitanga, disability support, housing, health, iwi social services, dairy farming, legal services, and tertiary education. These collaborations have helped us design and deliver effective services while strengthening relationships that support the goals of Whaanau Ora.
Nurturing Whaanau Potential
Huakina remains dedicated to supporting whaanau in achieving meaningful outcomes and reaching their personal, whaanau, and community goals.
We are committed to continuously improving our services to be more integrated and coordinated, ensuring whaanau can easily access the support they need—no matter where or how they enter our services.
