Rauemi | Resources

Te Tiriti in action – examples for conversations

Iwi/hapū and Māori organisations around the country are enacting Te Tiriti for the benefit of whole communities – while also dealing with the government’s Te Tiriti attacks. In our conversations about supporting Te Tiriti, it helps to give specific examples of this work. And there are hundreds! Below are five recent examples from Te Ao Māori News to give you a flavour of the types of things you might want to share with others.

If there are Te Tiriti focused initiatives that you know about through your own community involvement it can be powerful to share those. If not, keep an eye on Māori media or take a look at websites of local hapū, iwi and Māori organisations for relevant local examples to talk about when you’re encouraging people to Vote for Te Tiriti.

1. Environmental protection: Safeguarding a harbour and ratepayer dollars

A Far North community is celebrating a milestone in its decades-long battle to keep human waste out of their treasured harbour. Hapū spokesperson Dallas King said the upgrade of Rāwene’s wastewater plant was an important example of how all ratepayers benefit when councils work with iwi. The plant’s final cost was just over $1.2mill, less than a tenth of the $22.3m initial price quoted by industry experts.

2. Cost of living crisis: Providing dignity and choice

Te Umu ki Rangituhi is Porirua’s first social supermarket. It is a safe space, without judgement and a lot of support. Established by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira in partnership with Foodstuffs, the supermarket recognises the cost-of-living challenges facing Porirua residents and provides practical support, making essential groceries available with dignity and choice.

3. Emergency response: Marae providing critical infrastructure and shelter

Marae across the country provide essential shelter, kai and care during increasingly frequent severe weather events (despite the government cutting a core fund which equipped marae to do this). Winiata marae in Taihape is just one of many examples. Reflecting on their support to hundreds of people stranded during major storms in February 2026 they said, “We just knew it would be part and parcel of what we need to do for our community. Not only for our local community but for the many hundreds and thousands of people that travel through Taihape.”

4. Essential health services: Taking dental care to the people

Addressing health inequity in Aotearoa means providing services to those who need them the most and have the most barriers to access. The partnership between iwi-led health provider Turanga Health and mobile dental clinic Trinity Koha is one great example. With the support of volunteer dental practitioners, they delivered free, accessible and welcoming dental care to hundreds of people across Gisborne in 2024 and 2025. Patients were also supported with wraparound support – like transport to appointments, car seats and flu vaccinations.

5. Renewable energy: Partnering for impact

Ngāi Tahu Holdings have partnered with Mint Renewables, a leading player in a rapid and sustainable transition to renewable energy, to establish a $100m fund for renewable energy projects. The partnership combines Mint’s long-term investment capital and technical expertise with Ngāi Tahu Holdings’ strong local commercial presence, values and iwi governance structures. While initially focusing on developments in Te Waipounamu, they’re also looking to partner with other iwi and landowners across the country to create jobs and build resilient infrastructure that meets the needs of communities now and into the future.

See our accompanying Te Tiriti conversations election 2026 resources:
 A guide to navigate conversations – encourage understanding of, and support, for Te Tiriti in the lead up to the election.
A list of government attacks on Te Tiriti and equity for Māori during the last three years.