28
t r i b a l n u r s e ry
– s u p p o r t i ng w i d e r
t r i b a l i n i t i at i v e s
For Nursery Manager Miriama Turner or ‘Tilly’ as she is
affectionately known, the last six months have been a busy
time for the facility which only commenced activities in April
last year.
“This last reporting period was supposed to be an opportunity
for us to set ourselves up. We weren’t expected to be fully
operational until year two. But, the stars aligned and we found
ourselves fulfilling a whole host of unanticipated demands.”
The closure of a native nursery in Miranda saw more than
80,000 plants transported to the Hopuhopu facility with the
help of Tilly’s whaanau, tribal staff and volunteers from marae
and surrounding communities.
Whilst it was totally unexpected, Tilly says management has
been given a real insight into just how valuable the nursery is
to the tribe in terms of its capacity to support wider initiatives.
“Even before we received the plants from Miranda, we were
already supplying plants to tribal projects including Matariki
celebrations and restoration activities along the Waikato
River. More recently we’ve been able to meet demands for
marae-based programmes and Taupiri Maunga priorities. My
real passion is providing a facility that encourages training and
development opportunities for our rangatahi and also marae
people who are keen to pursue a career in this industry –
somewhat like an outdoor classroom. The kids love it here and
with a bit more infrastructure in place, we’ll be able to receive
more participants and on a more frequent basis.”
River Trust Business Analyst Ashleigh Turner says the priority
is to make sure that the nursery is able to sustain its own
operational costs so it can focus on supporting wider tribal
initiatives rather than concern itself entirely with “spinning a
profit so it can exist”.
“The nursery concept came about as a result of the river
settlement and it was intended to support river initiatives,”
said Ashleigh. “So we are working hard to make sure that we
are taking opportunities that support the nursery to contribute
to other projects. It has been a busy time and the potential
is exciting. I congratulate Tilly, her husband Barm and their
whaanau for what they have been able to achieve in just a
short timeframe. It’s been amazing to watch this operation
progress from the concept phase.”
2 0 1 4 wa i k at o r au pat u r i v e r t ru s t
s c ho l a r s h i p r e c i p i e n t s an d
i n t e r n s
Waikato Raupatu River Trust scholarships and internships
are intended to support participants in their chosen
areas of study, or to give them an insight into study
and development pathways, that lead to careers that
contribute to the work of the tribe.
• Beca Consultancy, Hamilton Internship – Tamoko
Ormsby, Maungatapu, Turangawaewae, and Te
Tokanganui-a-Noho Marae
• Beca Consultancy, Christchurch Internship – Christine
Morehu, Turangawaewae Marae
• Mighty River Power Internship – Sjaak Verstappen,
Turangawaewae Marae
• Ministry for Culture & Heritage Internship – Rhea
Waretini, Te Tokanganui a noho Marae
• Waikato DHB Population Health Internship – Kendal
Evitts, Poihaakena Marae
• Waikato Regional Council Internship – Macky Horotini,
Te Tihi o Moerangi Marae
• Waikato-Tainui College Research Internship –
Sada Charlie, Taupiri Marae
• WRRT Claims Team Internship – Te Tuanui Paki,
Kaitumutumu Marae
• WRRT Conservation & Strategy Internship –
Jaedyn Falwasser, Taniwha Marae
• WRRT Engineering Scholarship – Janei Leota,
Horahora Marae
• WRRT Environment Team Internship – Te Puia Wirihana,
Maungatautari Marae
• WRRT/Niwa Whitebait Restoration internship –
Rimutere Wharakura, Turangawaewae Marae
• WRRT Rangatahi Internship – Hinerangi Mahara,
Ookapu Marae
• WRRT Wetland Cultural Indicator Internship –
Yvonne Taura, Kai-a-te-Mata and Rukumoana Marae
• WRRT Wetland Research Scholarship – Parani Hopa,
Tauhei Marae
Waikato-Tainui aspires to the restoration of the
environment to the state that Kiingi Taawhiao
observedwhen he composed his ‘maimai aroha.’
