About Us
Who We Are
Te Oriori Trust is a kaupapa-led Māori organisation based in Murihiku. We work alongside whānau and communities to strengthen identity, wellbeing, and connection through cultural practice, learning, and local kōrero. Our kaupapa is grounded in place, relationships, and intergenerational responsibility.
Our Kaupapa
Our kaupapa is to grow strong, connected communities through lived practice and cultural continuity. We centre mātauraka, whanaungataka, and tīkaka, and we hold pūrākau as a living source of guidance, belonging, and collective wellbeing. We value humility, safety, and integrity in how knowledge is shared and carried.
How We Work
We work with communities, not on them. Our approach is relational and kaupapa-led: we listen first, co-design where needed, and deliver in ways that are safe, inclusive, and practical. We prioritise consistent presence, clear expectations, and accountability to whānau and local partners, ensuring our mahi remains grounded and responsive.
Community Practice
Te Puna Ora is the community practice expression of Te Oriori Trust. It welcomes tamariki, pakeke, and kaumātua into spaces of learning and connection through accessible patu and taiaha practice, local pūrākau, and tikaka based development. The focus is not performance. It is belonging, confidence, and collective strength.
Our Responsibilities
We carry responsibility for people and for the knowledge we work with. That means maintaining safety, respecting boundaries, and protecting cultural integrity in all settings. We are committed to Māori control over Māori knowledge, and to working in ways that uphold mana, strengthen relationships, and leave communities better supported over time.