Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust

What Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust does

Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust is the social and environmental arm of Te Kawerau ā Maki, a West Auckland-based iwi (tribe) of Māori and the northernmost iwi of the Tainui waka. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust, a post-settlement governance entity established after the Te Kawerau ā Maki Claims Settlement Act came into force in November 2015. The Tiaki Trust delivers grant programmes, education support, health and wellness initiatives, housing assistance, and cultural projects to registered uri (members) who whakapapa to ancestors Maki and Rotu and Tawhiakiterangi and Marukiterangi, while also administering cultural (taonga tuku iho) and environmental (taiao) management across the iwi's rohe from West Auckland to the Gulf Islands.

Its core activities centre on Treaty settlement asset administration, including the four schools (Henderson Primary, Matipo, Waterview, Campbells Bay) acquired in a NZ$50 million-plus deal funded by ACC in 2020, and statutory co-management of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area under the 2008 Act, formalised by the 2025 Deed of Acknowledgement with Auckland Council. The trust runs dedicated ranger, environment, education, and community engagement teams, and partners with bodies including Auckland Council, Watercare, Forest & Bird, Ark in the Park, and the Waitakere Ranges Society on conservation outcomes such as kauri protection (rāhui), track reopening, and native species release.

Revenue and operating funding are not disclosed; the organisation is structured as a non-profit tribal trust and does not sell conventional products. Its "business model" rests on Treaty settlement asset returns, Crown co-management arrangements, investment portfolio management (via the sibling Te Kawerau Iwi Investment Trust), cultural tourism development, property acquisitions under deferred selection and right of first refusal mechanisms, and housing-sector joint ventures. Go-to-market is community-led, targeting registered uri through a website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and direct email outreach rather than commercial sales channels.

Name

Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust

Legal name

Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust

Website

https://tekawerau.iwi.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust is the social and environmental arm of Te Kawerau ā Maki, a West Auckland-based Māori iwi. It delivers education, health, housing, and cultural programmes to registered uri and co-manages Treaty settlement assets including schools and the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Community Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trust Administration & Fiduciary Accounting Services (FSAAANAF), Personal & Family Trust Services (FSAAANAA), Community-Based & Indigenous-Owned Nature Lodges (THAAAHAI), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Iwi trust services
• Treaty settlement administration
• Environmental co-management
• Cultural heritage management
• Community grants programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Treaty Settlement Asset Management: Management and development of Treaty settlement assets including Riverhead Forest and Treaty redress land
2. School Asset Management: Management of four Treaty redress schools - Henderson Primary, Matipo, Waterview, and Campbells Bay
3. Housing Sector Partnerships: Commercial partnerships and joint ventures in the housing sector
4. Cultural Tourism: Development of cultural tourism ventures
5. Property Acquisitions: Acquisition of exclusive and shared deferred selection (DSP) and right of first refusal (RFR) properties
6. Investments: Investment portfolio management for iwi benefit

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust is the social and environmental arm of Te Kawerau ā Maki iwi, delivering uri (member) support programmes (education, health, housing, cultural and emergency grants), co-management of the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area under the 2008 Act, Treaty settlement asset stewardship, and uri registration. The Trust exists to advance the cultural, social, environmental, and economic wellbeing of registered descendants of Maki and Rotu and Tawhiakiterangi and Marukiterangi.

Product overview

Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust operates as the social and environmental arm of Te Kawerau ā Maki, a West Auckland-based iwi. The organization provides a suite of services organized under the Tiaki Trust brand, including grant programmes for education, health, housing, and cultural initiatives; environmental and cultural management through the Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area co-management; Treaty settlement asset administration; and member registration and portal services. The Tiaki Trust is one of two main subsidiaries of the Te Kawerau Iwi Settlement Trust, alongside the Te Kawerau Iwi Investment Trust which handles economic and commercial activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tiaki Trust Social and Environmental Services Grant programmes, education support, health and wellness initiatives, housing support, emergency relief, and cultural projects delivered to registered uri (descendants) of Te Kawerau ā Maki.
• Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Co-Management Cultural (taonga tuku iho) and environmental (taiao) management, including engagement with the Crown on plan changes, resource consents, heritage authorities, and initiatives such as the Waitākere rāhui and GIS mapping of cultural landscapes.
• Treaty Settlement Asset Management Management and development of Treaty settlement assets including Riverhead Forest and four Treaty redress schools (Henderson Primary, Matipo, Waterview, Campbells Bay).
• Uri (Member) Registration Registration service for direct descendants of Maki and Rotu and Tawhiakiterangi and Marukiterangi to become registered members of Te Kawerau ā Maki, enabling participation in governance elections and access to support services.
• Members Portal Online portal providing registered members access to internal assets, meeting notes, and private information.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11km of new tracks reopened including 8km Montana Heritage Trail at Te Piringa/Cascades
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Auckland CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area co-management. The 2025 Deed formalizes association with the area and establishes collaboration frameworks for management under the Waitakere Ranges Heritage Area Act 2008.
• WatercareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership for water management and conservation initiatives in West Auckland.
• Ark in the ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPredator-free conservation initiative partnership in the Waitakere Ranges area.
• Matuku LinkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWetland conservation partnership focusing on biodiversity protection.
• Waitakere Ranges SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local conservation society for protection of Waitakere Ranges.
• Tree CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership for tree planting and forest restoration initiatives.
• Forest & BirdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNature conservation partnership with Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society.
• EcomattersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability and environmental initiatives partnership.
• PFwRA (Piha & Franz Josef Remote Areas)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRemote area conservation and environmental protection partnership.
• Long Bay Okura Great Park SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional park conservation partnership for North Shore area.
• Okura BushminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBush and forest conservation partnership.
• Whau River ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiver restoration and environmental management partnership.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated: Large North Island iwi organisation operating post-settlement governance, Treaty asset management, and a broad set of social, cultural, and environmental programmes for registered uri.
• Ngāti Porou: East Coast iwi with a long-established post-settlement governance structure delivering social services, cultural programmes, and Treaty-based commercial operations for its uri membership.
• Raukawa Settlement Trust: Mid-sized post-settlement iwi trust managing Treaty redress assets, environmental co-management, and uri development programmes. Comparable governance structure and Crown partnership profile to Te Kawerau.
• Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Trust: Auckland-based iwi post-settlement governance entity with comparable Treaty settlement assets, commercial holdings, and Crown co-management relationships. Operates a similar two-trust structure (mandate vs commercial) serving uri members in the Auckland region.
• Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu: Largest South Island iwi with a sophisticated post-settlement structure managing Treaty settlement assets, conservation programmes, and member services. Comparable in operating a separation between social/environmental and commercial functions.
• Waikato-Tainui: Major Tainui waka iwi with a post-settlement governance entity holding significant commercial assets, social programmes for uri, and Treaty-based partnerships with the Crown. Highly relevant comparator for scale and structure of a Māori settlement trust group.
• Tūhoe: Post-settlement iwi entity with Te Uru Taumatua governance, including significant forest assets and cultural/social programmes for uri. Comparable structure of settlement trust plus subsidiaries managing commercial and social portfolios.
• Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust: Auckland/Hauraki Gulf iwi trust focused on coastal and island environmental management alongside Treaty settlement asset administration. Comparable scope of cultural, environmental, and asset management responsibilities in a similar Auckland geography.

Regional players

• Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara: Northern Tāmaki iwi rūnanga operating across the Kaipara region with similar Treaty settlement, environmental co-management, and uri development functions. Comparable mandate and Crown partnership profile to Te Kawerau.

Others

• Forest & Bird (Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand): Major New Zealand conservation NGO and listed partner of Te Kawerau. Relevant as an ecosystem collaborator and comparator on Waitākere Ranges conservation delivery, even though it is not an iwi entity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TeKawerau
• Facebookfacebook.com/100076640388283
• Instagraminstagram.com/tekawerauamaki
• TikToktiktok.com/@te_kawerau_a_maki?lang=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/te-kawerau-iwi-tiaki-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Te Kawerau Iwi Tiaki Trust