Kaitiakitanga

Kaitiakitanga Program and Network
Te Whaiti Nui-a-Toi children
guard and share Whirinaki,
their culture, language and values

Getting to the Whirinaki, Minginui and Te Whaiti:

From Auckland: (North)

Travel South down highway 1, turn left at the bottom of the Bombay Hill onto highway 27, Stay on this until you reach Matamata where you turn left and proceed down the main street going straight ahead and following the signs to Rotorua (via highways 24, 28 and 5). In Rotorua pick up fuel and travel straight ahead along Old Taupo Rd to the "T" at its end, where you turn right towards Taupo on highway 5

From Rotorua:

Pick up fuel, then follow signs to Taupo along highway 5. After about 25 km turn left at Rainbow Mountain onto highway 38 and travel straight ahead through Murupara to Te Whaiti (allow 1hr 10min from Rotorua to Te Whaiti)

From Whakatane:

Pick up fuel, then take Highway 30 towards Rotorua, through Awakere then turn left on the Road to Murupara, travelling through Matahina, Waiahou and then Galatea. When you hit highway 38 to Waikaremoana, turn right towards Murupara and after about 1/2 Km stop at the DOC Rangitaiki Area Office to get up to date maps and Information.

From Taupo: (South)

Take Highway 5 from Taupo towards Rotorua then after passing Rainbow Mountain on right , turn right onto Highway 38 heading for Murupara and Waikaremoana.

SORRY THIS SHORT CUT FROM TAUPO USING A PRIVATE FORESTRY ROAD IS NOW CLOSED As you approach Taupo from the South along the waterfront, take Rifle Range Road on the right. (Pick up fuel here). At the end of this turn right onto the back road which heads towards Broadlands and Reparoa on the east side of the Waikato River. After about 30 km you will see the Ohaaki Power station cooling tower on the left. Carry on through the small village of Broadlands then take the road on the right with the large "Golf course" sign and proceed up the hill via Plateau Road. At the "T" at the end of this turn left into Goudie Rd which changes to metal through the forest and soon meets highway 38. ( Take a good note of where you came out so you know how to get back on the way home as the turnoff may not be signposted). Turn right on to highway 38 and travel straight through Murupara to Te Whaiti. (Allow 1hr 20 mins from Taupo)

From Murupara

Follow highway 38 towards Waikaremoana, stopping just out of Murupara at the DOC Rangitaiki Area Office to pick up maps and up to date information. Then drive on towards Te Whaiti.

From Wairoa: (East)

Get to Wairoa, fill up with fuel, then take highway 38 through Waikaremoana where you will stop at the Aniwaniwa Viistors Centre to get up to date maps and information. Travel on over the metal winding road through Ruatahuna to Te Whaiti. As you wind down into Te Whaiti and hit the tar seal take the first (and only) left toward Minginui and soon see Murumurunga Marae on the right. (This route is a long winding road metal with some beautiful scenery so allow at least 3 hours from Wairoa)

At Te Whaiti: (Click to see map of the Whirinaki)

Te Whaiti with our maraes is the Gateway to the Whirinaki. If coming from Murupara travel past the Waikotikoti Marae on right, then over the bridge, then take first road on right to Minginui following the tar seal and soon see Murumurunga Marae on right with church and school on hills on the left.

At Murumurunga Marae:

If you are coming on a marae visit enter through visitors gate (Manuhiri) and park ready for the Powhiri (welcome onto the marae).

At Minginui:

Enter the village and continue straight ahead past the hall on the rightl. You will soon see the Minginui Heath and Kokiri Centre on the right where you can get information on activities available in the Whirinaki Valley.

Please note there is no fuel, shop, public transport or cellphone coverage at Te Whaiti or Minginui.

NOTICES AND ACHIEVEMENTS:

Our gift to you - download Free Whirinaki Matariki Wall Calendar

What Andree a sustainability writer discovered about Kaitiakitanga

Coming Easter 2010 Biomimicry Exploration - Norbert Hoeller, Auckland
David Bellamy - Moa's Ark revisited tour Whirinaki 25 4-10 Oct 09
The Maori Youth Hikoi to Bioneers Conference, San Francisco 16 Oct 08
VIDEO "Redesigning our Future" - Youth Forum with Michael Braungart

Papakainga Development - Matekuare Whanau Project underway
Minginui Community Gardening - underway thanks to Community Max
Whirinaki Ecological Technology (We-tech) Our pest control innovation

Check out our school's Energy Monitoring / Weatherstation project
Our drama production, kapakaka and other creative initiatives


Ngati Whare Iwi Treaty Settlement signed, incl partnership with DOC
WEMZ - The Whirinaki Ecological Restoration Zone - a project with DOC
DOC partnerships information kiosk, Mangamate, Sanctuary(proposed)
Take a photo tour through our valley see restoration work needed
Ready to start - our Whirinaki Centre, Nursery and Recycling Projects
Our project to upgrade our water supply in Minginui Mar 07
Thanks TPK for facilitating Govt support for Minginui initiatives
Our network's submission to govt on Rural Community Opportunities

Toxin Bioremediation Project started in Whakatane May 09
Celebrate what our friends at Hokianga Harbourcare are doing
Our Network's Mycorestoration Research Project - Fungi and mushroom
Our Lopez friends help Raglan with an affordable housing project

Thanks MfE for a big toxin cleanup on our millsites - July 07
Blocked - our Community Digital Strategy - Whirinaki Interactive 12/06
Prince Andrew adopts our Kiwi, Princess Beatrice on Mokoia Is Mar 07
Our network on the Kiwi Youth Voice learning journey to US. Mar 07
Our network at Youth Voice Digital Earth Summit on Sustainbility Aug 06
We welcomed Hunter Lovins 7-9 July 06, VIDEO view NZ tour resources
Thanks Waikato University for help with broadband 05
Thanks Housing Corp, house painting and marae restoration teams
Go Tramping in Whirinaki. See Kaka, Kiwi, Weka, Robin, Blueduck
Report Living Organisation workshops. Tipu Ake presented worldwide 05
Report Hikoi to Indigenous Knowledges Conf , Well, NZ. June 05
Thanks to UNITEC Architecture Students for help with town plans 04
Report on Sustainable Resources Conf, Colorado 04
Report on PMI Global Forum, Los Angeles Tipu Ake paper 04
Report on Sharing Indigenous Wisdom Conf, Wisconsin, June 04
Int and local visitors attend Tipu Ake Retreat March 04 See report
MPs Horomia and Mallard open our new merged area school Jan 04
Trip to Whaingaroa Env Gp Raglan, Jan04 learnings, VIDEO view