The Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao programme was formally established in 2020, building on previous environmental work undertaken by Rewi Anglem and his team. The purpose of the programme is to ensure that the Hokonui Rūnanga increases its capacity to exercise kaitiakitanga and rangatiratanga across the takiwā of the Hokonui Rūnanga with a focus on Mātauranga Māori and a management approach aligned with the principle of ki uta ki tai (mountains to the sea).

Pepeha

Ko aku waka whakairo ko Takitimu, ko Uruao

Kei runga ko Ōparure

Kei raro ko Mataura e rere ki te moana o te Ara a Kiwa

Ko Māruawai taku whenua taurikura e takoto nei

Takoto mai ko Matamata, te mōkai tapu o Rakitauneke,

te taniwha

Ko Te Au-nui Pihapiha Kanakana te rere

Ko Hoka-nui, Kowhaka-ruru, Tarahau-kapiti ngā puke

Ko Tūtemakohu raua ko Te Rakitauneke ngā tīpuna

Tū mai ko Ō Te Ika Rama, te whakaruruhau o te mano

Tēnei te reo o Waitaha, Ngāti Mamoe, Ngāti Kurī,

Ngāi Tahu ngā iwi

Kia taurikura ai. Kia haumako ai ko te taiao mo te apōpō

Let the land be prosperous and fertile for future generations

Vision

To enhance the mana of te ao tūroa.

Mission

To sustainably support the growth of Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao by enhancing self determination to manage, restore, and provide for te ao tūroa (the natural world).

To develop leaders and connect ngā tangata to the whenua through teaching and knowledge sharing as kaitiaki.

To uphold the mana and rangatiratanga of e taiao in the realm of Rakinui and Papatuānuku.