WhenuaTahi
LandFirst
About Us
WhenuaTahi
Specialists in Māori cultural strategy, policy, research & guidance
Our Mission
At WhenuaTahi Ltd, our mission is to empower whānau and communities to achieve meaningful social, environmental and economic outcomes. Guided by tikanga and mātauranga Māori, we provide innovative solutions across land management, data insights, and kaupapa Māori initiatives that enable sustainable, culturally grounded decision-making for future generations.
Our commitment is to foster a deep respect for Te Ao Māori and Tangata Whenua, ensuring that cultural sensitivity and sustainability are at the forefront of every initiative.
About Us
WhenuaTahi began as a land management service supporting Māori landowners with strategic and operational guidance to care for their whenua. From those humble beginnings, WhenuaTahi has grown into a diverse kaupapa-driven business, combining cultural expertise, community development, and data analysis with our strong foundation in agricultural advisory work. Guided by tikanga and mātauranga Māori, we work alongside whānau, hapū, land trusts, agribusinesses, and decision-makers across Waikato, King Country, and the Bay of Plenty. Our focus remains the same: to empower whānau to make informed, sustainable decisions that strengthen their whenua and future generations.
Rautaki Tikanga - Cultural Strategy & Advisory
Guiding policy and practice through tikanga and mātauranga Māori.
We help organisations and iwi develop strategies grounded in te ao Māori, ensuring cultural integrity at every level of decision-making. Our team provides advice on policy, engagement frameworks, tikanga protocols, and Māori relationship management. From government agencies to local trusts, we support clients to navigate cultural landscapes with respect, authenticity, and confidence.
Oranga Whenua Land & Development Guidance
Ensuring development honours whakapapa, taiao, and tangata whenua values.
Our roots are in the whenua. We provide strategic and operational support to Māori landowners, land trusts, and agribusinesses, from land-use planning and governance advice to environmental assessments and farm development strategies. Every recommendation we make is informed by kaitiakitanga and long-term sustainability, ensuring each project benefits both people and the land.
Whakamana Whānau - Whānau & Community Empowerment
Empowering whānau to create strong, connected futures.
We turn data into meaningful insight. Through research, evaluation, and data analysis, we help whānau, hapū, and policymakers make informed decisions on issues that impact Māori wellbeing, such as health, education, employment, and environment. Our approach combines quantitative evidence with mātauranga Māori perspectives to tell the full story behind the numbers.
Tātaritanga Raraunga - Research & Data Analysis
Providing insights that inform sustainable Māori outcomes.
We deliver kaupapa Māori programmes that uplift whānau potential and build community resilience. Whether through youth leadership initiatives, cultural capability workshops, or community-led projects, we focus on creating pathways for social, spiritual, mental, physical and economic growth. Our goal is simple: to empower whānau to thrive, connected to their identity, whenua, and each other.
Te Rautaki a te Tikanga - Tikanga-led Strategy
Working with integrity, grounded in the wisdom of our tūpuna
Te Oranga o te Whenua - Whenua & Wellbeing
Balancing prosperity with the protection of Papatūānuku
He Mātai Raraunga - Insights with Impact
Turning data into stories that uplift iwi, hapū, and whānau
He Ara Whakamua - Pathways Forward
Building collective prosperity for future generations
Fostering Sustainable Land Management Practice
Leading Advisors in Agribusiness
At WhenuaTahi, we bridge the gap between modern agricultural practices and the rich cultural heritage of Te Ao Māori. Our expert consultancy ensures that your projects not only comply with regulations but also respect and honor the values of tangata whenua, fostering a harmonious relationship with the land.
• Farm Supervision and decision support
• Strategic Farm and Business Planning
• Trustee Services
• Māori Agribusiness growth and development
• Project Management and Feasibility Studies
• Policy Advice
• Lease Block Inspections / Analysis
• Māori Agribusiness growth and development
• Project Management and Feasibility Studies
Building Foundations in Mātauranga Māori
Te Ara Tūpuna
We offer services through our Te Ara Tūpuna waka which includes the Te Ara Tūpuna wānanga - Introduction to Tikanga and Matauranga Māori.
The program covers:
• Introduction to Karakia/Inoi
• Introduction to Waiata
• Ko wai au? - Discovering yourself
• Tuia te Taiao - Finding yourself in this world
• Te Ara Tūpuna - Finding yourself in your Ancestors
Cultural Strategy and Policy Development
Your Partner in Cultural Strategy and Policy Development
At WhenuaTahi Ltd, we specialise in creating and implementing Māori cultural strategies and policies that align with Te Ao Māori and Tangata Whenua. Our team ensures that these strategies are culturally sustainable and respectful of the land's unique heritage.
Cultural Research and Guidance
Our in-depth research and cultural guidance (tikanga Māori advice) help organisations understand and integrate localised Māori values into their projects. We provide practical solutions that honour and incorporate these values.
Cultural Management Reports
We produce comprehensive cultural management reports that evaluate the cultural impacts of development projects. These reports offer practical solutions to ensure that projects are culturally sustainable and respectful.
Land Development and Management
We offer expert advice and services related to land development and management, ensuring that all projects are conducted in a manner that respects and honours the cultural significance of the land.
Marae Policy Development & Governance Support
Strengthening the foundations that hold our people, tikanga, and whenua.
WhenuaTahi works alongside marae to build strong, future-focussed foundations that honour tikanga and support confident decision-making. Our service helps marae develop clear, practical, and culturally aligned policies — from health and safety to finance, bookings, roles, and tikanga protocols.
We also strengthen governance by supporting trustees and committees with strategic planning, constitution reviews, leadership training, meeting systems, and succession planning.
About Our Team
WhenuaTahi Consultants
Julian Reti Kaukau
Founder & Principal Advisor – WhenuaTahi Ltd
Ngāti Rongo, Tūhoe, Ngāti Paretekawa – Ngāti Maniapoto
Julian Reti Kaukau is a respected Māori agribusiness advisor and the founder of WhenuaTahi Ltd, a consultancy dedicated to helping Māori landowners, trusts, and organisations build strong, sustainable, and future-focused whenua enterprises.
With a deep grounding in tikanga and mātauranga, Julian brings a unique blend of cultural insight, strategic thinking, and practical agribusiness expertise to every kaupapa he supports.
Julian specialises in cultural strategy, governance, land development, and primary sector engagement, working alongside whānau to unlock opportunities and strengthen capability across their whenua. His approach bridges both Māori and Western systems, ensuring decisions are culturally grounded, commercially sound, and aligned with long-term aspirations.
Alongside WhenuaTahi, Julian holds the role of Pou Ārahi Māori at DairyNZ, where he leads national Māori engagement programmes and supports the growth and visibility of Māori agribusiness within the dairy sector.
Driven by a passion for Māori success and intergenerational wellbeing, Julian’s vision is simple: thriving whānau, thriving whenua, and thriving futures for the next generation.
Te Kahu Reti Kaukau
Māori Public Health | Māori Mental Health & Addiction | Cultural Wellbeing Practitioner
Ngāti Rongo, Tūhoe, Ngāti Paretekawa – Ngāti Maniapoto
Te Kahu Reti Kaukau is developing his expertise as a Māori public health practitioner specialising in Māori mental health and addiction. He has recently completed the Matatini Ora – Diploma in Māori Public Health (Level 6), a specialised qualification designed to strengthen Māori capability within the health and social service workforce.
He is dedicated to creating culturally grounded, mana-enhancing pathways that support tāne in their healing and reconnection journeys.
With a strong sense of whakapapa, national kapa haka experience, and ongoing reo Māori studies, he draws upon manaakitanga, tika, pono, and aroha to guide his work with those navigating addiction or hardship. His foundation from Te Aute College, combined with empathy, whaikōrero skills, and cultural intuition, enables him to help individuals restore their mana and reconnect with their potential. His overarching aspiration is to uplift Māori wellbeing, build resilience, and empower people across generations.
At WhenuaTahi, Te Kahu contributes a unique blend of cultural depth, clinical insight, and lived experience that enhances our ability to support whānau and whenua-based entities in a holistic, people-centred way. His knowledge in Māori mental health and addiction provides a vital wellbeing perspective that complements WhenuaTahi’s agribusiness, strategy, and cultural services, ensuring that the human, emotional, and relational aspects of community development are honoured alongside economic and environmental goals.
Through his ability to connect deeply with people, especially tāne seeking reconnection and healing, Te Kahu reinforces WhenuaTahi’s commitment to uplifting whānau wellbeing, fostering authentic relationships, and empowering communities to thrive across generations.
Maria Maniapoto
Researcher | Māori Education & Health | Tribal Historian | Governance Leader
Ngāti Paretekawa, Ngāi Tūhoe
Maria is a Māori researcher, writer, and education specialist whose work spans Māori health, education, tribal history, and iwi development.
Maria holds a Diploma in Māori Studies, a Bachelor of Arts, and a Master of Education (MEd) from Victoria University of Wellington. As an independent researcher, she has authored and contributed to numerous publications in Māori health and education and she has played key roles in national research projects and sector reports.
She is currently looking at undertaking a PhD, exploring Ngāti Paretekawa history and contemporary narratives. Her doctoral work draws on archival records, whakapapa, oral histories, and modern iwi perspectives to preserve and uplift the stories and identity of her people. Her expertise in iwi history and Māori research methodologies positions her as a strong advocate for intergenerational knowledge transmission.
Maria recently served on the Board of Te Nehenehenui, the post-settlement governance entity for Maniapoto, contributing governance experience, strategic insight, and research capability to support the iwi’s long-term aspirations.
Maria is deeply passionate about manaakitanga in practice, and one of the places this shines is in her enjoyment of working in the kitchen as a ringawera at her marae, Mangatoatoa, where service, generosity, and whanaungatanga are lived daily.
Maria is an experienced Cultural Impacts researcher, having completed cultural values assessments for land development projects in the Waipā district. Her work ensures mana whenua perspectives, tikanga principles, and environmental values are embedded throughout project planning and decision-making.
Maria’s experience as an independent researcher, combined with strong writing and analytic skills, allows WhenuaTahi to deliver high-quality research, credible cultural assessments, and iwi-informed strategies. Maria’s ability to synthesise archival knowledge, whakapapa, community narratives, and contemporary Māori realities ensures that our work remains authentic, rigorous, and connected to the people it serves.
Maria’s passion for manaakitanga reinforces the relational, values-led foundation of WhenuaTahi. Her warmth, humility, and commitment to service enrich our team culture and shape the way we engage with communities.
Maria strengthens WhenuaTahi’s capacity to produce meaningful, culturally aligned solutions that support whānau and whenua-based organisations to make confident, future-focused decisions grounded in identity, history, and collective wellbeing.
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