Nominations are now open for Te Pā Harakeke | Hauraki Māori Community Awards, recognising the people whose quiet, consistent mahi strengthens whānau and communities across Hauraki.

Established by Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki | Hauraki Women’s Refuge, Te Pā Harakeke is the first of many more Hauraki Māori Community awards. “These awards are about honouring those whose contributions often go unseen, but whose impact is deeply felt by our communities,” said Tania Weidenbohm, Co-chair of Te Whāriki.

The inaugural awards will be held on Saturday, 11 July 2026, at the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre, during Matariki. The awards will bring together whānau, hapū, iwi, community organisations and partners to uplift the carers, kaimahi, kaitiaki, rangatahi and wāhine toa whose mahi sustains the wellbeing of Hauraki.

Nominations open today, Wednesday 13 May, and close at 5 pm on Friday 19 June 2026. Nominees can be an individual, whānau, kaupapa or rōpū whose work deserves to be recognised.

“There are people across Hauraki whose mahi holds our communities together, and most of them would never ask to be acknowledged,” says Michael Barlow, Co-Chair of Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki.

Denise Messiter, Chief Executive of Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki adds, “That’s exactly why we’ve created these awards. Te Pā Harakeke is our way of saying: we see you, we honour you, and we are stronger because of you.”

About Te Pā Harakeke

Te Pā Harakeke takes its name from the whakataukī:
He pūāwaitanga harakeke, he rito whakakīnga whāruarua: The flowering harakeke and the new shoots fill the empty spaces, and the rito thrives when the whole pā harakeke flourishes.

The pā harakeke is a living metaphor for whānau and community, generations standing together to protect the rito, the inner shoot, so future generations can flourish.

The awards celebrate six areas of community mahi:

• Whanaungatanga & Collective Empowerment
  Honouring those who weave whānau, hapū and community together.
• Social & Economic Wellbeing – Rangatahi Innovator Award
  Recognising rangatahi whose innovation lifts the wellbeing of Hauraki.
• Environmental Wellbeing
  Honouring kaitiaki who protect the mauri of whenua, awa, moana and ngahere.
• Community Safety & Resilience
  Celebrating those who keep people safe and build collective strength.
• Cultural Revitalisation & Resilience
  Recognising those who keep reo, tikanga and mātauranga Māori alive.
• Wāhine Māori Leadership
  Honouring wāhine Māori whose leadership uplifts whānau, hapū, iwi and community.

Three categories: Social & Economic Wellbeing, Environmental Wellbeing and Wāhine Māori Leadership are designated as memorial awards, selected by whānau.

How to nominate

Nominations are open and can be submitted online at [website URL].

Whānau and community members who prefer to nominate manually are welcome to email the team at Te Whāriki Manawāhine o Hauraki: poutahuhu@hauraki.refuge.co.nz

Nominations close at 5 pm on Friday, 19 June 2026.

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