About us

We are a passionate team of taiao kaitiaki who are actively dedicated to caring for Papatūānuku through sustainable education, growing and uplifting whanau to thrive, heal and live harmoniously.

1

COURSES

85

NEW MAARA

3

PROJECTS

475

HOSTED

Our Philosophy

Our purpose is to cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation for the beauty and bounty of Papatūānuku. We aim to rekindle the innate connection that binds us all to the soil, the plants, and the cycles of life. Through maara kai, we find not only nourishment for our physical bodies but also a sanctuary for our wairua.

Our Values

We are committed to being excellent kaitiaki for our Taiao, our hāpori and our wellbeing.

Our Vision

Te Rau o Rongo Charitable Trust is committed to reconnecting with the Whenua to facilitate healing, recovery, and revitalisation of traditional Kai cultivation.

Our Impact

Between 2023-2025

- We educated 475 people

- 90% māori whanau

- 3 Iwi led maara programmes held at Te Rau o Rongo

- 1 Wananga programme held at Te Rau o Rongo

Our Trustees

A skilled and dynamic wahine toa team dedicated to Papatūānuku, bringing decades of governance experience, sustainable education, and research expertise to the organisation.

Kim Skelton

Trustee

Te Ati Awa, Taranaki, Ngāti Raukawa

Kim brings a wealth of governance experience to her role as Chair. In Taranaki, she is a Trustee of Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust, Director of two commercia companies for Te Ātiawa (Taranaki) and Director of NPDC Water Services company. Kim also chairs Te Ara Tupua mana whenua steering group for infrastructure projects in Wellington. She’s proud of the projects’ positive legacy outcomes including re-indigenisation of landscape, integrating tikanga into project design, consent and delivery, and giving whanau opportunities to grow personally and learn technical skills essential to future infrastructure development.

Kim is passionate about Te Rau o Rongo and finds balance in her life by gardening and giving beauty by growing flowers.

Susan Hutchinson Daniels

Trustee

Susan believes that when skilled gardeners share their expertise, we foster resilience and promote food sovereignty. As an experienced educator in sustainability, she understands the power of working with Papatuānuku, nurturing both ourselves and the soil.

At Te Rau o Rongo, we envision a center dedicated to well-being, health, peace, and prosperity.

Rawinia Leatherby

Trustee

Ko Taranaki, ko Ngāruahine, ko Te Atiawa, ko Ngāti Ruanui, ko Ngāti Mutunga ngā Iwi,

Ko Parihaka me Oeo ngā Papakainga, ko Te Potaka, ko Katere ki te Moana, ko Urenui raua ko Taiporohenui ngā Marae.

Tihei Mauri Ora.

Rawinia loves the preventative approach to community & whānau wellbeing and caring for te taiao. She loves growing and harvesting kai that feeds and heals us especially the gifts from tangaroa, whenua and awa

Te Kahurangi Skelton Pue

Trustee

Te Ati Awa, Ngati Maru, Ngati Raukawa, Taranaki

Currently Chair of Otago Māori Rugby and treasurer of Te Waipounamu Māori Rugby.

I am committed to the future of this whenua for generations to come, as it continually strengthens our connection to our whakapapa and cultural landscapes.