Inspiring the next generation of kaitiaki through hands-on environmental learning, restoration projects, and connection to the whenua and wai of Taupō-nui-a-Tia.
As Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board marks 100 years of service to our whānau, our whenua, our wai, and our future, we are reminded that the legacy we leave is not measured only by what we build today, but by the generations we inspire tomorrow.
That legacy was on full display at the recent Kids Greening Taupō event, Greening Taupō Day, where hundreds of tamariki came together to learn, connect and take action for te taiao.
Surrounded by the whenua they call home, tamariki rolled up their sleeves to plant native rakau, learn about local biodiversity, and strengthen their connection to te taiao. More than simply planting trees, the day was about nurturing a deeper understanding of kaitiakitanga, the responsibility we all share to care for and protect the taiao for future generations. Kids Greening Taupō empowers tamariki to take an active role in conservation, restoration and environmental leadership, helping shape the future of their communities through hands-on action.
For Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, supporting initiatives such as Kids Greening Taupō aligns closely with the values that have guided our whakapapa responsibilities and our people for generations. The health of our whenua, awa and taiao is inseparable from the wellbeing of our people. By investing in opportunities for rangatahi to learn, lead and connect with the environment, we are helping ensure these values continue to thrive for the next 100 years.
As part of its support for the event, Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board and Ngā Kaihautū hosted a dedicated presence within the Kids Greening Taupō programme, creating an opportunity to engage directly with tamariki, whānau and the wider community. The programme plays an important role in restoring key areas across the district, with its current focus on revitalising the Waikato Awa corridor.
This year, approximately 4,000 trees were planted, with participation from tamariki across Kohanga Reo, Early Childhood Centres, Kura Kaupapa Māori, and Schools.
The space was designed to support the wider kaupapa of kaitiakitanga while sharing the Trust Board’s 100 Years of Tūwharetoa story and vision for future generations. The Tīuwharetoa Māori Trust Board stand featured a range of interactive activities, including freshwater invertebrate learning, biosecurity awareness game, Check, Clean, Dry messaging, and seed bomb making including an added incentive of a competition based on the activities. While many tamariki engaged in the activities, it highlighted increased awareness of local ecosystems and a holistic connection to the whenua.
The activation reflected a simple but enduring principle: that kaitiakitanga is strengthened through participation, connection and the passing of knowledge from one generation to the next.
The kaupapa reflected a powerful intergenerational story. As our tūpuna once cared for these lands and waters, today’s tamariki are stepping forward to continue that responsibility. Through planting, learning and collective action, they are contributing to a legacy that extends far beyond a single day.
Every tree planted, seed sown and habitat restored through Kids Greening Taupō helps shape a new generation of environmental leaders. For over a decade, the programme has connected tamariki with te taiao through hands-on learning experiences that strengthen biodiversity, foster a sense of responsibility and deepen connections to their communities and the natural world.
As we celebrate our centenary, we acknowledge that the future of Tūwharetoa rests in the hands of the next generation. Events such as Greening Taupō Day remind us that kaitiakitanga is not simply a responsibility inherited from our ancestors — it is a living practice that must be nurtured, shared and carried forward.
One hundred years on, the commitment remains the same: to care for our people, our whenua and the generations yet to come.
Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei.
