![\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/a-student-practices-fire-safety-skills-during-360-rangatahis-AUIP4XEJ55DGVB35VHC7GOHXUA.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAn iwi-led investment initiative has injected nearly $300,000 into supporting wh\u0101nau to build a diverse range of enterprises across the Ruapehu region.<\/p>\n
Ng\u0101ti Rangi has funded 34 new wh\u0101nau initiatives in its fourth round of Whiria Ng\u0101 Hua, a programme aimed at creating local solutions to help wh\u0101nau and hapori (communities) thrive.<\/p>\n
Helen Leahy, pou \u0101rahi of Ng\u0101ti Rangi\u2019s operational arm Ng\u0101 Waihua o Paerangi, said the investment enables wh\u0101nau to pursue their aspirations.<\/p>\n
“This is the essence of Wh\u0101nau Ora,” Leahy said. “All of our experience and evaluations prove that outcomes are always more enduring and more meaningful when wh\u0101nau are in the driving seat.”<\/p>\n
Ng\u0101ti Rangi launched Whiria Ng\u0101 Hua in 2022 to support social, cultural, medical and economic wellbeing. Leahy said the initiative is driven by wh\u0101nau, for wh\u0101nau.<\/p>\n
Research from previous funding rounds has shown that investing directly in wh\u0101nau enterprise delivers positive social impacts by strengthening cultural and community connectedness as well as health and economic development, Leahy said.<\/p>\n
“The model of funding invests in ideas and initiatives to improve a broad range of wellbeing outcomes for wh\u0101nau, underpinned by a wh\u0101nau-centred approach.<\/p>\n
“Rather than being directed to comply, or be a passive recipient of services, wh\u0101nau have told us they want to create positive solutions for themselves.”<\/p>\n
In the latest round, wh\u0101nau are bringing their aspirations to life through kaupapa ranging from creative k\u0101kahu huruhuru sewing workshops for marae to environmental work training, including firearms licences, chainsaw skills and risk management.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A student practices fire safety skills during 360 Rangatahi\u2019s fire extinguisher and general fire awareness training. The programme was funded through Whiria Ng\u0101 Hua. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting)<\/p>\n
“Our priority for funding was to invest in rangatahi,” Leahy said.<\/p>\n
Among the ventures supported are Matua Te Mana Muay Thai, Ruapehu Waka Ama, and Ka Ora Ng\u0101 Rangatahi Maara Kai \u2013 a hunting and gathering initiative under the kaupapa Maara to Jar, involving cultivation, seeding, planting, hanging meat and turning produce into pickles and relish.<\/p>\n
Other kaupapa include Te H\u0101 o te Huru (The Essence of Hair), nurturing rangatahi in the art of barbering, and Taonga P\u016boro Hauora Kete, focused on the stories and creation of traditional musical instruments.<\/p>\n
“Some of the successful applications focused on soul-to-soul healing such as counselling and equine-assisted therapy, while four local kura will also benefit from this round.”<\/p>\n
Leahy said the Ruapehu region had experienced significant employment shocks over the past two years, and Whiria Ng\u0101 Hua was well placed to create new opportunities for wh\u0101nau and communities to prosper.<\/p>\n
“Whiria Ng\u0101 Hua continues to grow the M\u0101ori enterprise ecosystem and strengthen wh\u0101nau-led economic resilience,” she said.<\/p>\n
The 34 funded ventures were selected from 69 applications, with a total investment of $293,500.<\/p>\n
Of 46 complete applications assessed by an independent panel, 27 were fully approved, seven partially approved, 12 declined and one withdrawn.<\/p>\n
More than 70% of approved applicants (24 wh\u0101nau) intend to establish legal entities to build sustainable ventures. Collectively, the initiatives are expected to reach 1756 individuals across the wider Ruapehu, Waimarino and Whanganui communities.<\/p>\n
An evaluation commissioned by Ng\u0101 Waihua o Paerangi found the Whiria Ng\u0101 Hua model has produced significant outcomes for wh\u0101nau and the wider community, fostering cultural connection, capability building and a stronger sense of empowerment, self-determination and wellbeing.<\/p>\n
The research concluded the initiative is driving positive change for hundreds of people across the Ruapehu region and demonstrates the multifaceted impact of direct wh\u0101nau commissioning.<\/p>\n
\u2013 LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"An iwi-led investment initiative has injected nearly $300,000 into supporting wh\u0101nau to build a diverse range of enterprises…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":123538,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[12553,4432,111,43,139,69],"class_list":{"0":"post-123537","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-iwi-hapu","9":"tag-maori-issues","10":"tag-new-zealand","11":"tag-news","12":"tag-newzealand","13":"tag-nz"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123537\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}