Why do we write submissions? Because they are also stories—of whakapapa, whenua, and resistance. At Tū Mai Te Toki, our words are a form of kaitiakitanga, used to uphold mana motuhake and protect the mauri of our taonga. In partnership with Te Rōpū Pounanao, we’ve crafted submissions that embed mātauranga Māori into national strategies, challenge harmful legislation, and amplify the voices of iwi-led conservation. Read the blog and hear from Rapata Kopae as he shares what kaitiakitanga means to him.

Budget 2025 has seen the removal of vital kaupapa like Predator Free Limited and the Mātauranga Kura Taiao Fund — moves that threaten progress in environmental protection and Māori-led solutions. In this blog, we reflect on the power of kōrero as our sharpest tool: how authentic storytelling, strategic engagement, and values-based communication can continue to carve pathways toward mana motuhake and rangatiratanga, even in challenging times.

In this blog, I reflect on the value of showing up with honesty over perfection. I share a personal moment of writer’s block, the pressure of consistency, and the new kaupapa I’ve joined to support wild animal management in Aotearoa. It’s a reminder that meaningful storytelling starts with being real — and that’s exactly what we stand for at Tū Mai Te Toki.

At Tū Mai Te Toki, we design purposeful, people-first engagement — grounded in tikanga and tailored with care.

Taurikura Anamata, delivered with Korehāhā Whakahau, brought together Predator Free 2050 projects and mana whenua for honest kōrero. We built a bespoke experience that reflected manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and Ngāti Awatanga.

This is how we work: authentic, values-led, and grounded in place.

Read the blog to learn more.

In this blog, I reflect on my journey serving Ngāti Awa through Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, the lessons learnt in building digital trust, and the importance of storytelling in the ever-evolving online world. As we move into new digital landscapes, our tamariki will need strong narratives to guide them—just as our tīpuna once navigated great migrations.
I share how, in my final weeks, I worked to create enduring digital products for Taihuringa – Project Management Office, focusing on storytelling that connects and empowers rangatahi.
This is a story about change, resilience, and the enduring power of kōrero tuku iho.

This deeply personal blog explores how strong, intergenerational storytelling can shape identity, expose injustice, and drive change. Reflecting on her father's legacy as a sawmill worker, the kaupapa of the SWAP rōpū, and her own unexpected journey in this space, Karla shares how a narrative rooted in truth and tikanga Māori has the power to heal, inform and transform. A story about whakapapa, whenua, and the fight for justice — told through the lens of lived experience.

When I decided to relaunch Tū Mai Te Toki Communications, it wasn’t about chasing contracts or financial gain — it was about committing to kaupapa that truly matter to me.

In my latest blog post, I share the story of how I came to support Te Rōpū Pounanao, a collective of Ngāti Awa practitioners dedicated to the revitalisation of the kuia harvest and the protection of ngā manu kuia and Moutohorā. It's a kaupapa grounded in kaitiakitanga, whanaungatanga and intergenerational care for te taiao — and one that felt deeply aligned with my own values.

Tu Mai Te Toki Communications began as a rudimental blog. An unflinching look into iwi politics, the blog focused on sharing information in the interest of transparency and accountability.

It is these same values that shape the communications business that has sprung from these unlikely origins. Take a read of the first post of the new Te Rangitaki o Tū Mai te Toki and learn more about the foundations that helped to form Tū Mai Te Toki Communications.